Gambia,
river, western Africa, rising in the Futa Jallon Mountains, in Guinea.
It flows generally west through the nations of Senegal and The Gambia
before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean by a wide estuary near Saint
Mary's Island, the site of Banjul, the capital of The Gambia. A sandbar
at the mouth does not obstruct navigation even during low tide. The
river from source to outlet extends little more than 480 km (about 300
mi) in a straight line, but because of its sinuous course, the actual
length is about 1125 km (about 700 mi).
The
flood period of the Gambia is from June to November, at which time the
Barraconda Rapids, some 443 km (275 mi) from the mouth of the river, are
traversable by small craft. For a long time, the Gambia River was the
only important artery of trade in The Gambia. It was discovered by the
Portuguese about 1446 and was explored in 1455 by the Venetian navigator
Alvise da Ca Da Mosto.
Gambia,
river, western Africa, rising in the Futa Jallon Mountains, in Guinea.
It flows generally west through the nations of Senegal and The Gambia
before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean by a wide estuary near Saint
Mary's Island, the site of Banjul, the capital of The Gambia. A sandbar
at the mouth does not obstruct navigation even during low tide. The
river from source to outlet extends little more than 480 km (about 300
mi) in a straight line, but because of its sinuous course, the actual
length is about 1125 km (about 700 mi). 
The
flood period of the Gambia is from June to November, at which time the
Barraconda Rapids, some 443 km (275 mi) from the mouth of the river, are
traversable by small craft. For a long time, the Gambia River was the
only important artery of trade in The Gambia. It was discovered by the
Portuguese about 1446 and was explored in 1455 by the Venetian navigator
Alvise da Ca Da Mosto.