Senegal

I

Introduction

Senegal, republic in the westernmost part of Africa, along the Atlantic Ocean. Senegal was once a French colony within French West Africa. It became an independent country in 1960 but has maintained close ties with France, and French remains its official language. Islam is the major religion. Senegal has had an elected government since gaining independence. Although poor, it is considered one of the most stable countries in Africa.

Senegal’s landscapes range from desert in the north to dense tropical forest in the south. Most of the country is a low plain. The Sénégal River, which gives the country its name, forms Senegal’s northern border with Mauritania. Senegal is bounded on the east by Mali, on the south by Guinea and Guinea-Bissau, and on the west by the Atlantic Ocean. The Gambia, a small, narrow country, forms an enclave in southern Senegal, extending inland along the Gambia River. The republic’s total area is 196,722 sq km (75,955 sq mi), which makes it about the size of the state of South Dakota. Dakar is the capital and largest city.

II

Land and Resources of Senegal

Most of Senegal is a rolling plain lying below 100 m (330 ft) in elevation. The country’s elevation rises above 500 m (1,600 ft) only in the extreme southeast in the foothills of the Fouta Djallon (Futa Jallon). Much of the country lies within the savanna region of West Africa; open plain is covered with savanna grasses and studded with trees. Northern Senegal is part of the Sahel, a semidesert zone that lies between the Sahara to the north and wetter, tropical regions to the south.

Senegal’s main rivers are the Sénégal, which forms the northern boundary, and the Saloum, Gambia, and Casamance. Although these rivers are subject to seasonal variations in their flow, all are navigable on their lower courses.

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The Atlantic coastline of Senegal extends for 531 km (330 mi). The coast is smooth and sandy from the mouth of the Sénégal south to Cap Vert, a rocky peninsula that extends into the Atlantic and is the westernmost tip of Africa. Dakar is situated on Cap Vert, and small islands lie off the coast of the peninsula. Dakar’s harbor is one of the largest and best protected on the African continent.

A

Climate

Most of Senegal has a very warm to hot, dry climate. The desert zone in the north is much drier than the tropical zone in the south. A short rainy season lasts from July to October in the north, where rainfall averages 380 mm (15 in). In the south the rainy season lasts from June to October, with annual rainfall of 1,400 mm (55 in). During the long dry season a hot, dry wind called the harmattan blows steadily from the northeast. The average temperature on the coast is 22°C (72°F) in January and 28°C (82°F) in July. Temperatures are generally higher in the interior than on the coast.

B

Plant and Animal Life

Plant life in the semidesert Sahel region of Senegal consists largely of savanna grass with scattered clumps of trees and spiny shrubs. Farther south, in the region of the Gambia River, trees become more common. In the extreme south are mangrove swamps and dense forests of oil palm, mahogany, teak, and bamboo.

Wildlife is diverse in Senegal. However, larger mammals, such as elephants, lions, cheetahs, and antelopes, are rare and largely confined to the less populated eastern half of the country. The Niokolo Koba National Park is a large wildlife reserve on the Gambia River in eastern Senegal, and a bird sanctuary is located on the Sénégal River delta. Hippopotamuses and crocodiles are found in the rivers. Among Senegal’s numerous varieties of snakes are the cobra and boa constrictor.

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