Discover THE GAMBIA: 10 INTERESTING FACTS YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS WEST AFRICAN COUNTRY
The Gambia, officially known as The Republic of Gambia, is a country located in West Africa. The country is situated on both sides of the lower reaches of the Gambia River, which flows through the center of the country and empties itself into the Atlantic Ocean. The Gambia has an area of 11,300 km². Banjul is the Gambian capital and is the country’s largest metropolitan area.
In this video, you will discover 10 interesting facts about The Gambia.
The Gambia is a strip of land 25 to 50 kilometers (15 to 30 miles) wide on either side of the Gambia River and extends almost 480 kilometers (300 miles) into the interior. It is entirely surrounded by Senegal except for a short coastline along the Atlantic Ocean. The Gambia is incredibly narrow measuring less than 30 miles at its widest. Although small, the country is densely populated with about 2.3 million people.
About 1300 square kilometers of Gambia’s area is covered by water. It is the smallest country on Africa’s mainland. The peculiar shape and size of this country is the result of territorial compromises made during the 19th Century by Great Britain, which controlled the lower Gambia River and France, which ruled the neighboring colony of Senegal.
The Gambia’s capital city is Banjul. Gambia’s economy is heavily reliant on agriculture and tourism. The country is heavily dependent on foreign aid. Its main natural resources are fish, clay, titanium, silica sand, zircon and tin. Its main exports are peanuts, fish, cashew nuts, vegetables, sesame and mangoes. The Gambian Dalasi is the official currency of the Gambia.
So, where did the name ‘Gambia’ come from? One belief is that the name is based on the translation of the Portuguese word ‘Cambio’ meaning trade or exchange which is a common activity along the river. Gambia is also derived from the Mandinka term ‘Kambra or Kambaa’ meaning Gambia River or from the Sacred Serer Gamba-a special type of calabash beaten when a Serer elder dies.
