Senegal: Background & Geography
| Introduction | Senegal |
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Background:
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Independent from France in 1960, Senegal joined with The Gambia to form the nominal confederation of Senegambia in 1982. However, the envisaged integration of the two countries was never carried out, and the union was dissolved in 1989. Despite peace talks, a southern separatist group sporadically has clashed with government forces since 1982. Senegal has a long history of participating in international peacekeeping. |
| Geography | Senegal |
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Location:
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Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania |
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Geographic coordinates:
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14 00 N, 14 00 W |
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Map references:
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Africa |
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Area:
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total: 196,190 sq km
water: 4,190 sq km land: 192,000 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than South Dakota |
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Land boundaries:
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total: 2,640 km
border countries: The Gambia 740 km, Guinea 330 km, Guinea-Bissau 338 km, Mali 419 km, Mauritania 813 km |
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Coastline:
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531 km |
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Maritime claims - as described in UNCLOS 1982 (see Notes and Definitions):
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territorial sea: 12 NM
contiguous zone: 24 NM exclusive economic zone: 200 NM continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin |
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Climate:
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tropical; hot, humid; rainy season (May to November) has strong southeast winds; dry season (December to April) dominated by hot, dry, harmattan wind |
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Terrain:
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generally low, rolling, plains rising to foothills in southeast |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed feature near Nepen Diakha 581 m |
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Natural resources:
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fish, phosphates, iron ore |
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Land use:
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arable land: 11.58%
other: 88.23% (1998 est.) permanent crops: 0.19% |
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Irrigated land:
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710 sq km (1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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lowlands seasonally flooded; periodic droughts |
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Environment - current issues:
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wildlife populations threatened by poaching; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; overfishing |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling |
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Geography - note:
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westernmost country on the African continent; The Gambia is almost an enclave of Senegal |