A small country, The Gambia borders the Atlantic Ocean and Senegal on the western coast of Africa. The river Gambia, the country’s namesake, flows through the center of The Gambia and empties into the Atlantic Ocean. It is a fairly narrow country and is less than 50 kilometres (31 miles) wide at its widest point.
Economically, The Gambia relies on traditional subsistence agriculture and peanut export for most of its earnings, although tourism and money sent home by the diaspora form the basis of their foreign exchange reserves.
There are many ethnic groups with strong cultures and languages living in the region, including the Mandinka, the Fula, and Wolof, among others. The majority of its population practices Islam.