Gambia

Official name: Republic of The Gambia

Form of government: Presidential government

Geographic feature: Longest river: the Gambia, 1,100 km

Geography: The Gambia River runs the length of the country and is its lifeline which is restricted to the broad river valley and adjacent hills.

Flora and fauna: The hills are covered with savannahs and brush. The river
and its shores provide a habitat to many animals: various kinds of birds, leopards, monkeys, antelopes, crocodiles and hippopotami.

Size: 4,000 square miles or 11,295 sq. km

Capital: Banjul, population around 42,400

Total population (July 2005): 1.593.256

Languages: Official language: English; local tribal languages are Mandinka, Wolof, Djola, and Fula.

Religion: More than 90% Muslim

Climate: Subtropical with distinct dry and wet seasons; hot and humid during the rainy seasons from July to October; depending on the season, temperatures are between 15 and 43°C (59 – 43° Fahrenheit); the dry, dusty harmattan winds blow off the Sahara from January throughout May.

Resources: Tourism is restricted to the 30 km (ca. 18 mi) coastal strip