The Gambia

THE GAMBIA

Sent by حامدMaπias, a postcrosser from Gambia.

Gambia/The Gambia

GAMBIA
Karabane

One of the six postcards sent by Abubacarr from Gambia.

This is from Wikipedia : The Republic of The Gambia, commonly referred to as The Gambia, or Gambia /ˈɡæmbiə/, is a country in West Africa. Gambia is the smallest country on mainland Africa, surrounded by Senegal except for a short coastline on the Atlantic Ocean in the west.

The country is situated around the Gambia River, the nation's namesake, which flows through the country's centre and empties into the Atlantic Ocean. Its area is almost 10,500 km² with an estimated population of 1,700,000.

On 18 February 1965, Gambia gained independence from the United Kingdom and joined The Commonwealth. Banjul is Gambia's capital, but the largest conurbations are Serekunda and Brikama.

Gambia shares historical roots with many other west African nations in the slave trade, which was the key factor in the placing and keeping of a colony on the Gambia River, first by the Portuguese and later by the British. Since gaining independence in 1965, Gambia has enjoyed relative political stability, with the exception of a brief period of military rule in 1994.

An agriculturally fertile country, its economy is dominated by farming, fishing, and tourism. About a third of the population lives below the international poverty line of US$1.25 a day.

Gambia - The Shepherds

THE GAMBIA
The Shepherds.

One of the six postcards sent by Abubacarr from Gambia.

Gambia - Biggest Market in Banjul

THE GAMBIA
The biggest market in the capital of Banjul.

One of the six postcards sent by Abubacarr from Gambia.

Gambia - Arch 22

GAMBIA
Arch 22.

One of the six postcards sent by Abubacarr from Gambia.

This is from Wikipedia : Arch 22 is a commemorative arch on the road into Banjul in The Gambia. It was built in 1996 to mark the military coup d'etat which over threw the democratically elected government, and saw the rise to power on 22 July 1994 of President Yahya Jammeh and his Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council.

The arch stands on the Banjul-Serrekunda Highway near to the traffic island which intersects with Box Bar Road, Independence Drive and Marina Parade. A statue of the "unknown soldier" can be seen near the base of the arch. The soldier is carrying a baby in one hand, making the peace sign (V-sign) with the other hand, and has a rifle strapped across his back.

The Arch is depicted on the reverse of the 100 dalasi banknote.

The Arch was designed by Senegalese architect Pierre Goudiaby, who also designed Banjul's Yundum International Airport and the African Renaissance Monument in Dakar, Senegal.

At 35 metres it is one of the tallest structures in The Gambia. The building stands on eight columns and has three floors. Access to the upper floors can be made through several elevators and spiral cases.

The first floor is an intermediate level in the columns. The gallery on the second floor provides an impressive panorama of the city, with the view extending down to the sea port of Banjul and the mangrove forests of Tanbi Wetland Complex. On the top floor is a small textile museum.

Due to doubts about the stability of the construction, the arch is currently closed to traffic.

Gambia - Gambia River

Gambia River, divides Gambia into two parts; North and South.

One of the six postcards sent by Abubacarr from Gambia.

This is from Wikipedia : The Gambia River is a major river in West Africa, running 1,130 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 known largely because of The Gambia, the smallest country in mainland Africa, which consists of little more than the downstream half of the river and its two banks.

From the Fouta Djallon, the river runs northwest into the Tambacounda Region of Senegal, where it flows through the Parc National du Niokolo Koba, then is joined by the Nieri Ko and Koulountou before entering The Gambia at Fatoto. At this point the river runs generally west, but in a meandering course with a number of oxbows, and about 100 km from its mouth it gradually widens, to over 10 km wide where it meets the sea.

Near the mouth of the river, near Juffure, is James Island, a place used in the slave trade which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The aquatic fauna in the Gambia River basin is closely associated with that of the Sénégal River basin, and the two are usually combined under a single ecoregion known as the Senegal-Gambia Catchments. Although the species richness is moderately high, only three species of frogs and one fish are endemic to this ecoregion.

Gambia - Kombo Beach

THE GAMBIA
Kombo Beach Hotel.

One of the six postcards sent by Abubacarr from Gambia.