Short facts about the geography of Senegal
| Location: |
Western Africa, bordering the North
Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and
Mauritania |
| Geographic
coordinates: |
14 00 N, 14 00
W |
| Area: |
total: 196,190 sq km
land: 192,000 sq km
water:
4,190 sq km |
| Area -
comparative: |
slightly smaller than South
Dakota |
| Land
boundaries: |
total: 2,640 km
border countries: The Gambia 740 km, Guinea 330
km, Guinea-Bissau 338 km, Mali 419 km, Mauritania 813
km |
| Maritime
claims: |
contiguous zone:
24 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of
the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200
NM
territorial sea: 12 NM |
| Climate: |
tropical; hot, humid; rainy season (May
to November) has strong southeast winds; dry season (December to April)
dominated by hot, dry, harmattan wind |
| Terrain: |
generally low, rolling, plains rising
to foothills in southeast |
| Elevation
extremes: |
lowest point:
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed feature
near Nepen Diakha 581 m |
| Natural
resources: |
fish, phosphates, iron
ore |
| Land
use: |
arable land: 12%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures:
16%
forests and woodland: 54%
other: 18% (1993
est.) |
| Irrigated
land: |
710 sq km (1993
est.) |
| Natural
hazards: |
lowlands seasonally flooded; periodic
droughts |
| Environment
- current issues: |
wildlife populations threatened by
poaching; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification;
overfishing |
| Environment
- international agreements: |
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but
not ratified: Marine Dumping |
| Geography -
note: |
The Gambia is almost an enclave of
Senegal | Source: World Factbook |
