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Location:
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Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal
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Geographic coordinates:
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13 28 N, 16 34 W
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Map references:
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Africa
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Area:
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total: 11,300 sq km
land: 10,000 sq km
water: 1,300 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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slightly less than twice the size of Delaware
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Land boundaries:
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total: 740 km
border countries: Senegal 740 km
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Coastline:
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80 km
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 18 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: extent not specified
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Climate:
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tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season (November to May)
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Terrain:
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flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 53 m
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Natural resources:
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fish, titanium (rutile and ilmenite), tin, zircon, silica sand, clay, petroleum
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Land use:
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arable land: 27.88%
permanent crops: 0.44%
other: 71.68% (2005)
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Irrigated land:
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20 sq km (2003)
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Total renewable water resources:
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8 cu km (1982)
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Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
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total: 0.03 cu km/yr (23%/12%/65%)
per capita: 20 cu m/yr (2000)
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Natural hazards:
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drought (rainfall has dropped by 30% in the last 30 years)
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Environment - current issues:
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deforestation; desertification; water-borne diseases prevalent
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Environment - international agreements:
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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
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Geography - note:
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almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the continent of Africa
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