Location: | Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal |
Geographic coordinates: | 13 28 N, 16 34 W |
Map references: | Africa |
Area: | total: 11,300 sq km land: 10,000 sq km water: 1,300 sq km |
Area - comparative: | slightly less than twice the size of Delaware |
Land boundaries: | total: 740 km border countries: Senegal 740 km |
Coastline: | 80 km |
Maritime claims: | territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 18 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm continental shelf: extent not specified |
Climate: | tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season (November to May) |
Terrain: | flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills |
Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 53 m |
Natural resources: | fish, titanium (rutile and ilmenite), tin, zircon, silica sand, clay, petroleum |
Land use: | arable land: 27.88% permanent crops: 0.44% other: 71.68% (2005) |
Irrigated land: | 20 sq km (2003) |
Natural hazards: | drought (rainfall has dropped by 30% in the last 30 years) |
Environment - current issues: | deforestation; desertification; water-borne diseases prevalent |
Environment - international agreements: | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
Geography - note: | almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the continent of Africa |