GAMBIA

gambia, an important river of west africa, and the only river of africa navigable by ocean-going boats at all seasons for over 200 m. from its mouth. it rises in about 11 deg. 25' n. and 12 deg. 15' w., within 150 m. of the sea on the north-eastern escarpment of the futa jallon highlands, the massif where also rise the head-streams of the senegal and some of the niger tributaries, besides the rio grande and many other rivers flowing direct to the gulf of guinea. the gambia, especially in its lower course, is very serpentine, and although the distance from the source to the mouth of the river is little more than 300 m. in a direct line, the total length of the stream is about 1000 m. it flows first