Geography

The country is bounded on the West by the Atlantic Ocean (700km coastline). The bordering countries are from North to South: Mauritania, Mali, Guinea, and Guinea Bissau. The Gambia stretches from the coast toward the interior of the Republic, thus almost separating the Northern part from the Southern. Senegal, the most westerly African state, occupies an area of 197,161km2 between Mauritania to the north, Mali to the east, and Guinea and Guinea-Bissau to the south. The Gambia almost divides Senegal in the south. The Casamance region, south of The Gambia, lies on the northern fringe of the monsoon climate, and has a rainy season of 4-5 months. Northern Senegal is arid and increasingly desiccated.