The Republic of The Gambia is one of the smallest countries in Africa situated on the the western coast of Africa, enclosed on the north, east, and south by Senegal, and fronting the Atlantic Ocean on the west. The Gambia occupies a narrow strip of territory cut in two by Gambia River.
The nation extends inland for about 295 miles (475 kilometers) and ranges from 15 to 30 miles (24 to 48 kilometers) in width. Its total area is 4,127 square miles (10,689 square kilometers). The capital city is Banjul. The country is mainly flat. Along the winding river are swamps where rice is grown and cattle graze. Farther away from the river, the soil is sandy and used for raising peanuts, the chief crop and main export of the nation. The Gambia has a subtropical climate with distinct hot and cool season.
During the cool season, the harmattan, a hot, dry, dusty wind, blows from the Sahara. Temperatures range from 160C (1600F) in summer. The dry season lasts from November to May while the rainy season lasts from June to October. The average annual rain fall is about 1020 mm (about 40 inches).
The main natural resources of The Gambia is the River (Gambia), one of the best navigable waterways in Africa. The country's soil is sandy and poor except in the riverine swamps, but ideally suited for the cultivation of peanuts. Some 83 percent of the working population is engaged in agriculture. Rice and millet, as well as sheep, cattle, goat, and poultry are raised for local consumptions.
