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General Information
Area: 11,295 sq km (4361 sq miles).
Population: 1,411,205 (2001).
Population Density: 124.9 per sq km.
Capital: Banjul. Population: 50,000 (1995).
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 bounded 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 Yayah Jammeh since 1994.
Language: The official language is English. Local languages are Mandinka, Fula, Wolof, Jola and Serahule.
Religion: Over 80 per cent Muslim, with the remainder holding either Christian or Animist beliefs.
Time: GMT.
Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Plugs are either round three-pin or square three-pin (15 or 13 amps).
Telephone
IDD is available. Country code: 220. Outgoing international code: 00. The country has an automatic telephone system.
Mobile telephone
GSM 900. Main operators include Gambia Telecommunications Cellular Company Ltd (website: www.gamtel.gm) and Africell.
Fax
There are nine GAMTEL offices in Banjul offering this service, 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, Cameron Street, Banjul.
Post
Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1300 and 1400-1700, Sat 0800-1100.
Press
Newspapers are English-language and include The Gambia Weekly, The Nation, The Gambia Daily, The Gambian Times and The Gambia Onward.
BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change.
BBC (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice):
Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov):
Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.
Terms and Conditions apply.
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