Article Outline
Senegal (country), republic, western Africa, bordered on the north by Mauritania, 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 River Gambia. A former French colony, Senegal gained full independence on June 20, 1960. The republic’s total area is 196,722 sq km (75,955 sq mi). The capital of Senegal is Dakar.
Most of Senegal is an undulating plain lying below about 100 m (330 ft). Elevations rise above 500 m (1,640 ft) only in the extreme south-east, in the foothills of the Fouta Djallon.
The main rivers are the Sénégal, which forms the northern boundary with Mauritania, and the Saloum, Gambia, and Casamance. Although these rivers are subject to seasonal variations in their flow, all are navigable on their lower courses.
Senegal has a tropical climate, with a dry season from November to June, and a wet season from July to October. The average daily temperature is 23.3° C (74° F) in January and 28.3° C (83° F) in July. The annual rainfall is greatest in the south, averaging about 1,400 mm (55 in), and decreases steadily northwards, to less than 381 mm (15 in).
