The State of Senegal
Senegal is the westernmost country on mainland Africa. It is bordered by Mauritania, Mali, Guinea and Guinea-Bissau. The Atlantic Ocean is located to the west.
Senegal is named after the Senegal River, the origin of which is disputed. One popular theory (David Pilet proposed in 1853) is that it stems from the Wolof gal phrase suno, which means "our canoe" (or brogue), resulting from a misunderstanding between 15th-century Portuguese sailors and Wolof fishermen. “Our Boat” follows a theory popularly embraced in Senegal by talking about its magic and using it in appeals to national solidarity (such as “We are all in the same boat”) often heard in the media.
Modern historians believe that the name may refer to the Sanhaja and Amazighs who lived on the northern side of the river. A competing theory is that it derives from a medieval city by the Arab geographer Al-Bakri described in 1068 as located at the mouth of a river. Some of the Serer people from the south believe that the name of the river is derived from the Seni complex term Serer (the supreme god in the Serer religion) and Ya Gal (meaning “body of water”).
Senegal's Casamance region which lies south of Gambia (Gambia is a country within Senegal), is largely isolated from the rest of Senegal. Most of the land is flat and low, with small plateaus in the west and low mountains in the east. Senegal has four major rivers: the Senegal, the Salloum, the Casamance, and the Gambia. The country is hot all year round, with the south receiving more rain than the north.
The tallest statue in Africa is in Senegal, the African Renaissance Monument, which is 49 meters high.
The westernmost point of mainland Africa is located near the capital, Dakar.
Senegal is also home to Lake Retba, known as the Pink Lake. The pink color is due to the proliferation of halophilic green algae, which contain red pigments.
quick Facts:
Capital: Dakar
Area: 196,712 km²
Population: 18 million people
Currency: West African franc
Official language: French
The dominant religion: Islam
Political system: Republican
Date of independence: April 4, 1960 (from France)
Natural resources: marine fishing, phosphate, iron ore
Senegal is considered one of the most politically stable countries in Africa.
Senegal has not witnessed any military coup since its independence.
It is home to one of the longest beaches in the world, Salida Beach.
It is known as the home of many famous footballers, such as Sadio Mane.
It is a member of the African Union, the Group of West African States, and the Group of Islamic Countries.
Source: websites