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Gambia River

January 19, 2024

The Gambia River (formerly known as the River Gambra, French: Fleuve Gambie, Portuguese: Rio Gâmbia) is a major river in West Africa, running 1,120 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.

Gambia River
Gambia River in the Niokolo-Koba National Park
Map of the Gambia River drainage basin
Location
Countries
Physical characteristics
SourceFouta Djallon
 • location Labé, Guinea
 • coordinates11°24′43″N 12°13′34″W / 11.412°N 12.226°W / 11.412; -12.226
 • elevation795 m (2,608 ft)
MouthAtlantic Ocean
 • location
Banjul, The Gambia
 • coordinates
13°28′N 16°34′W / 13.467°N 16.567°W / 13.467; -16.567
 • elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Length1,120[1] km (700 mi)
Basin size78,000 km2 (30,000 sq mi)

The river is strongly associated with The Gambia, the smallest country in mainland Africa, which occupies the downstream half of the river and its two banks.

Geography edit

The Gambia River runs a total length of 1,120 kilometres (700 mi). From the Fouta Djallon, it 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 [fr] and passing through the Barrakunda Falls before entering the Gambia at Koina. At this point, the river runs generally west, but in a meandering course with a number of oxbows, and about 100 kilometres (62 mi) from its mouth it gradually widens, to over 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) wide where it meets the sea.

Crossings edit

There are several bridges crossing the river. The largest and furthest downriver is the Senegambia Bridge between the towns of Farafenni and Soma in The Gambia. Opened in January 2019, it provides a link between the stretches of the Trans-Gambia Highway on the North and South Bank of the river. It also provides an expedited connection for Senegalese trucks traveling to and from Casamance. The bridge is 1.9 kilometres (1.2 mi) long and replaces a previously-unreliable vehicle ferry. A toll is levied on vehicle crossings.

There are also bridges in the Upper River Region of The Gambia at Basse Santa Su and Fatoto that opened in October 2021,[2] as well as a bridge in Senegal at Gouloumbou.

All other crossings are done by ferry, including a primary crossing between Banjul and Barra at the mouth of the river, or by small boat.

Bolongs edit

Small tributaries on the lower stretches of the river are commonly referred to as bolongs or bolons. These include Sami Bolong dividing the northern halves of the Central River Division and Upper River Division, Bintang Bolong dividing the Lower River Division from the West Coast Division, as well as smaller bodies of water such as the Sofancama, Jurunku, Kutang, Nianji, and Sandugu bolongs.[3]

History edit

The earliest known inhabitants of the area along the Gambia river include the Jola, the Balante, the Bainuk, and the Manjak.[4] The Carthaginian explorer Hanno the Navigator may have reached the Gambia during his expedition in the fifth century BC.[5]

According to oral tradition, large numbers of Mandinka immigrants from Mali led by Tiramakhan Traore, one of Sundiata's top generals, came to the region in the 14th century. Some modern historians, however, posit that relatively few immigrants, primarily jula traders, instead led a gradual socio-cultural shift towards identification with the higher-status Mandinka ethnicity and the ruling Mali Empire.[6][7] These jula made the Gambia an important part of the wider West African trade network, where salt, shellfish, iron, cloth, ivory, beeswax, gold, slaves, leather and more were exchanged as far as the Niger River and beyond.[8][9]

Alvise Cadamosto, a Venetian explorer working for the Portuguese, became the first European to sail to the Gambia in 1455, referring to the river as the Gambra or Cambra. Other sources from that period record names such as Guambea, Guabu, and Gambu (possibly a conflation, at the time or in later historiography, of the name of the river and the kingdom of Kaabu).[10] While merchants of various European countries traded on the Gambia river for two centuries after Cadamosto, the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia was the first to establish a permanent base, on what they called St Andrew's Island in 1651. After taking control of the island and renaming it 'St James' in 1661, the English vied with the French for commercial domination of the river for the next century and a half.[11]

During this period, kingdoms along the river Gambia included Niumi (also known as Barra), Niani, Kantora, Jimara, Kiang, Badibu, Fuladu, Tumana, and Wuli, all of which have lent their names to districts of The Gambia today. Major trading posts on or near the river included Barra, Albreda, Juffure, James Island (now a UNESCO World Heritage Site), Tendeba, Joar, MacCarthy Island, Fattatenda, and Sutukoba.

Around the turn of the 18th century, the Scottish explorer Mungo Park traveled up the Gambia twice on his way to the Niger River.[12]

The Anglo-French Convention of 1889 delimited the borders of the Gambia Protectorate and the colony of Senegal as being ten kilometers north and south of the river as far inland as Yarbutenda (near modern-day Koina), with a 10km radius to mark the eastern border measured from the center of town.[13] The British therefore controlled the river as far as it was navigable by sea-going vessels. Though widely seen as temporary at the time, the borders set in 1889 have remained unchanged ever since.[14]

Flora and fauna edit

The aquatic fauna in the Gambia River basin is closely associated with that of the Senegal 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.[15]

Oysters are harvested from the River Gambia by women and used to make oyster stew, a traditional dish in the cuisine of Gambia.

Gallery edit

  •  
    Map of the River Gambra (now the Gambia) 1732
  •  
    The western portion of the Gambia River, seen from space. The line shows the border of The Gambia.
  •  
    Upstream view of the river, near Janjanbureh Island
  •  
    Bank of the river, near Janjanbureh
  •  
    Ferry crossing of the river, at Janjanbureh

References edit

  1. ^ "Gambia River". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
  2. ^ Ma, Jianchun (13 Oct 2021). "Building the Friendship Bridges towards a Shared Future of China and The Gambia". The Point. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  3. ^ Gailey.
  4. ^ Buhnen, 49.
  5. ^ "Kunta Kinteh Island and Related Sites". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. Accessed 14/8/22.
  6. ^ Wright, "Beyond Migration", 385.
  7. ^ Buhnen, 51.
  8. ^ Wright, "Darbo Jula", 33.
  9. ^ Van Hoven.
  10. ^ Buhnen, 71.
  11. ^ Gailey, 3.
  12. ^ Capt. Washington. "Some Account of Mohammedu-Siseï, a Mandingo, of Nyáni-Marú on the Gambia." The Journal of the Royal Geographical Society of London, vol. 8, 1838, pp. 448–54. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/1797825. Accessed 27 Jul. 2022.
  13. ^ Gailey, 27.
  14. ^ Gailey, 28.
  15. ^ . Freshwater Ecoregions of the World. Archived from the original on 30 October 2016. Retrieved 30 October 2016.

Bibliography edit

  • Bühnen, Stephan. "Place Names as an Historical Source: An Introduction with Examples from Southern Senegambia and Germany." History in Africa, vol. 19, 1992. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/3171995.
  • Gailey, Harry (1987). Historical dictionary of the Gambia. Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow Press. ISBN 0810820013.
  • Gray, J.M. (1940). History of the Gambia. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Hughes, Arnold; Perfect, David (2008). Historical Dictionary of The Gambia. African Historical Dictionaries. Vol. 109 (4th ed.). Metuchen, New Jersey: Scarecrow Press. ISBN 9781442265226.
  • van Hoven, Ed (1996). "Local Tradition or Islamic Precept? The Notion of zakāt in Wuli (Eastern Senegal) (La notion de "zakāt" au Wuli (Sénégal))". Cahiers d'Études Africaines. 36 (144): 703–722. doi:10.3406/cea.1996.1863. JSTOR 4392734. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  • Wright, Donald R. "Beyond Migration and Conquest: Oral Traditions and Mandinka Ethnicity in Senegambia." History in Africa, vol. 12, 1985. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/3171727.
  • Wright, Donald R. "Darbo Jula: The Role of a Mandinka Jula Clan in the Long-Distance Trade of the Gambia River and Its Hinterland." African Economic History, no. 3, 1977, pp. 33–45. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/3601138. Accessed 27 Jul. 2022.


External links edit

  •   Media related to Gambia River at Wikimedia Commons
  • Gambia River Information & Photos

January 19, 2024
gambia, river, formerly, known, river, gambra, french, fleuve, gambie, portuguese, gâmbia, major, river, west, africa, running, kilometres, from, fouta, djallon, plateau, north, guinea, westward, through, senegal, gambia, atlantic, ocean, city, banjul, navigab. The Gambia River formerly known as the River Gambra French Fleuve Gambie Portuguese Rio Gambia is a major river in West Africa running 1 120 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 Gambia RiverGambia River in the Niokolo Koba National ParkMap of the Gambia River drainage basinLocationCountriesGuineaSenegalThe GambiaPhysical characteristicsSourceFouta Djallon locationLabe Guinea coordinates11 24 43 N 12 13 34 W 11 412 N 12 226 W 11 412 12 226 elevation795 m 2 608 ft MouthAtlantic Ocean locationBanjul The Gambia coordinates13 28 N 16 34 W 13 467 N 16 567 W 13 467 16 567 elevation0 m 0 ft Length1 120 1 km 700 mi Basin size78 000 km2 30 000 sq mi The river is strongly associated with The Gambia the smallest country in mainland Africa which occupies the downstream half of the river and its two banks Contents 1 Geography 1 1 Crossings 1 2 Bolongs 2 History 3 Flora and fauna 4 Gallery 5 References 6 Bibliography 7 External linksGeography editThe Gambia River runs a total length of 1 120 kilometres 700 mi From the Fouta Djallon it 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 fr and passing through the Barrakunda Falls before entering the Gambia at Koina At this point the river runs generally west but in a meandering course with a number of oxbows and about 100 kilometres 62 mi from its mouth it gradually widens to over 10 kilometres 6 2 mi wide where it meets the sea Crossings edit There are several bridges crossing the river The largest and furthest downriver is the Senegambia Bridge between the towns of Farafenni and Soma in The Gambia Opened in January 2019 it provides a link between the stretches of the Trans Gambia Highway on the North and South Bank of the river It also provides an expedited connection for Senegalese trucks traveling to and from Casamance The bridge is 1 9 kilometres 1 2 mi long and replaces a previously unreliable vehicle ferry A toll is levied on vehicle crossings There are also bridges in the Upper River Region of The Gambia at Basse Santa Su and Fatoto that opened in October 2021 2 as well as a bridge in Senegal at Gouloumbou All other crossings are done by ferry including a primary crossing between Banjul and Barra at the mouth of the river or by small boat Bolongs edit Small tributaries on the lower stretches of the river are commonly referred to as bolongs or bolons These include Sami Bolong dividing the northern halves of the Central River Division and Upper River Division Bintang Bolong dividing the Lower River Division from the West Coast Division as well as smaller bodies of water such as the Sofancama Jurunku Kutang Nianji and Sandugu bolongs 3 History editThe earliest known inhabitants of the area along the Gambia river include the Jola the Balante the Bainuk and the Manjak 4 The Carthaginian explorer Hanno the Navigator may have reached the Gambia during his expedition in the fifth century BC 5 According to oral tradition large numbers of Mandinka immigrants from Mali led by Tiramakhan Traore one of Sundiata s top generals came to the region in the 14th century Some modern historians however posit that relatively few immigrants primarily jula traders instead led a gradual socio cultural shift towards identification with the higher status Mandinka ethnicity and the ruling Mali Empire 6 7 These jula made the Gambia an important part of the wider West African trade network where salt shellfish iron cloth ivory beeswax gold slaves leather and more were exchanged as far as the Niger River and beyond 8 9 Alvise Cadamosto a Venetian explorer working for the Portuguese became the first European to sail to the Gambia in 1455 referring to the river as the Gambra or Cambra Other sources from that period record names such as Guambea Guabu and Gambu possibly a conflation at the time or in later historiography of the name of the river and the kingdom of Kaabu 10 While merchants of various European countries traded on the Gambia river for two centuries after Cadamosto the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia was the first to establish a permanent base on what they called St Andrew s Island in 1651 After taking control of the island and renaming it St James in 1661 the English vied with the French for commercial domination of the river for the next century and a half 11 During this period kingdoms along the river Gambia included Niumi also known as Barra Niani Kantora Jimara Kiang Badibu Fuladu Tumana and Wuli all of which have lent their names to districts of The Gambia today Major trading posts on or near the river included Barra Albreda Juffure James Island now a UNESCO World Heritage Site Tendeba Joar MacCarthy Island Fattatenda and Sutukoba Around the turn of the 18th century the Scottish explorer Mungo Park traveled up the Gambia twice on his way to the Niger River 12 The Anglo French Convention of 1889 delimited the borders of the Gambia Protectorate and the colony of Senegal as being ten kilometers north and south of the river as far inland as Yarbutenda near modern day Koina with a 10km radius to mark the eastern border measured from the center of town 13 The British therefore controlled the river as far as it was navigable by sea going vessels Though widely seen as temporary at the time the borders set in 1889 have remained unchanged ever since 14 Flora and fauna editThe aquatic fauna in the Gambia River basin is closely associated with that of the Senegal 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 15 Oysters are harvested from the River Gambia by women and used to make oyster stew a traditional dish in the cuisine of Gambia Gallery edit nbsp Map of the River Gambra now the Gambia 1732 nbsp The western portion of the Gambia River seen from space The line shows the border of The Gambia nbsp Upstream view of the river near Janjanbureh Island nbsp Bank of the river near Janjanbureh nbsp Ferry crossing of the river at JanjanburehReferences edit Gambia River Encyclopaedia Britannica Retrieved 30 October 2016 Ma Jianchun 13 Oct 2021 Building the Friendship Bridges towards a Shared Future of China and The Gambia The Point Retrieved 3 August 2022 Gailey Buhnen 49 Kunta Kinteh Island and Related Sites UNESCO World Heritage Centre United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization Accessed 14 8 22 Wright Beyond Migration 385 Buhnen 51 Wright Darbo Jula 33 Van Hoven Buhnen 71 Gailey 3 Capt Washington Some Account of Mohammedu Sisei a Mandingo of Nyani Maru on the Gambia The Journal of the Royal Geographical Society of London vol 8 1838 pp 448 54 JSTOR https doi org 10 2307 1797825 Accessed 27 Jul 2022 Gailey 27 Gailey 28 509 Senegal Gambia Freshwater Ecoregions of the World Archived from the original on 30 October 2016 Retrieved 30 October 2016 Bibliography editBuhnen Stephan Place Names as an Historical Source An Introduction with Examples from Southern Senegambia and Germany History in Africa vol 19 1992 JSTOR https doi org 10 2307 3171995 Gailey Harry 1987 Historical dictionary of the Gambia Metuchen N J Scarecrow Press ISBN 0810820013 Gray J M 1940 History of the Gambia Cambridge Cambridge University Press Hughes Arnold Perfect David 2008 Historical Dictionary of The Gambia African Historical Dictionaries Vol 109 4th ed Metuchen New Jersey Scarecrow Press ISBN 9781442265226 van Hoven Ed 1996 Local Tradition or Islamic Precept The Notion of zakat in Wuli Eastern Senegal La notion de zakat au Wuli Senegal Cahiers d Etudes Africaines 36 144 703 722 doi 10 3406 cea 1996 1863 JSTOR 4392734 Retrieved 2 December 2020 Wright Donald R Beyond Migration and Conquest Oral Traditions and Mandinka Ethnicity in Senegambia History in Africa vol 12 1985 JSTOR https doi org 10 2307 3171727 Wright Donald R Darbo Jula The Role of a Mandinka Jula Clan in the Long Distance Trade of the Gambia River and Its Hinterland African Economic History no 3 1977 pp 33 45 JSTOR https doi org 10 2307 3601138 Accessed 27 Jul 2022 External links edit nbsp Media related to Gambia River at Wikimedia Commons Gambia River Information amp Photos Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gambia River amp oldid 1191453047, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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