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General Information
Area 11,295 sq km (4361 sq miles). Population 1,364,507 (official estimate 2003). Population Density 120.8 per sq km. Capital Banjul. Population: 42,326 (1993). Geography The Gambia is situated on the Atlantic coast at the bulge of Africa. The country consists of a thin ribbon of land, at no point wider than 50km (30 miles), running east–west on both banks of the River Gambia. The Gambia is bordered to the west by the Atlantic Ocean and on all other sides by Senegal. It is also the smallest and westernmost African nation. The country mainly consists of a low plateau, which decreases in height as it nears the Atlantic coast. The plain is broken in a few places by low flat-topped hills and by the river and its tributaries. The area extending from MacCarthy Island, where Georgetown is located, to the eastern end of the country, is enclosed by low rocky hills. The coast and river banks are backed mainly by mangrove swamps, while the lower part of the river has steep red ironstone banks which are covered with tropical forest and bamboo. Away from the river, the landscape consists of wooded, park-like savannah, with large areas covered by a variety of trees such as mahogany, rosewood, oil palm and rubber. On the coast, the river meets the Atlantic with impressive sand cliffs and 50km (30 miles) of broad, unspoiled beaches, palm-fringed and strewn with shells. Government Republic. Gained independence from the UK in 1965. Head of State and Government: President Yahya Jammeh since 1994. Language The official language is English. Local languages are Creole, Fula, Jola, Mandinka, Manjango, Serahule, Serere and Wolof. Religion Over 85 per cent Muslim, with the remainder holding either Christian or animist beliefs. Time GMT. Electricity 230 volts AC, 50Hz. Plugs are either round three-pin or square three-pin (15 or 13 amps). Communications Telephone IDD is available. Country code: 220. Outgoing international code: 00. The country has an automatic telephone system. Mobile telephone GSM 900; providers include Africell (website: www.africell.gm) and Gamcell (website: www.gamtel.gm). Fax There are nine GAMTEL offices in Banjul offering fax services, some on a 24-hour basis. Internet Main ISPs include GAMTEL (website: www.gamtel.gm) and Quantumnet (website: www.qanet.gm). E-mail can be accessed in Internet cafes in major towns. Telegram Services are run by GAMTEL, 3 Nelson Mandela Street, Banjul. Post Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1300 and 1400-1700, Sat 0800-1100. Press Newspapers are English-language and include The Daily Observer, The Gambia Daily, The Gambian, The Independent and The Point. Radio BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online. |
