Gambia River

Gambia River
Gambia River in the Niokolo-Koba National Park
Map of the Gambia River drainage basin
Location
Countries
Physical characteristics
SourceFouta Djallon
 • location Labé, Guinea
 • coordinates11°24′43″N 12°13′34″W / 11.412°N 12.226°W / 11.412; -12.226
 • elevation795 m (2,608 ft)
MouthAtlantic Ocean
 • location
Banjul, The Gambia
 • coordinates
13°28′N 16°34′W / 13.467°N 16.567°W / 13.467; -16.567
 • elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Length1,120[1] km (700 mi)
Basin size78,000 km2 (30,000 sq mi)
Map

The Gambia River (formerly known as the River Gambra, French: Fleuve Gambie, Portuguese: Rio Gâmbia) is a major river in West Africa, running 1,120 kilometres (700 mi) from the Fouta Djallon plateau in north Guinea westward through Senegal and The Gambia to the Atlantic Ocean at the city of Banjul. It is navigable for about half that length.

The river is strongly associated with The Gambia, the smallest country in mainland Africa, which occupies the downstream half of the river and its two banks.

  1. ^ "Gambia River". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 30 October 2016.