Gambia

Did you know?

• 🏞The smallest country in mainland Africa, Gambia consists of a narrow strip of land stretching along the Gambia River, completely surrounded by Senegal on three sides.
• 🏳️Adopted in 1965, the flag of Gambia is a beautiful representation of geographical symbolism, directly reflecting the physical layout of the country. The red stripe on top represents the savannah grasslands and the hot tropical sun of the Sahel. The blue stripe in the center symbolizes the Gambia River, the vital artery of the country that flows through its entire length and gives the nation its name. The green stripe on the bottom signifies the rich forests, agriculture and hope for a prosperous future. Two thin white borders encasing the blue stripe stand for peace, unity, purity and the rule of law.
• 🚪A river state inside Senegal — Gambia has a highly unusual shape, extending over 320 kilometers inland along the banks of the Gambia River, yet its width is only between 25 and 45 kilometers. The nation is entirely enclosed by Senegal, save for a small opening to the Atlantic Ocean.
• 🗳️Voting with marbles — Gambia uses one of the most unique electoral systems on Earth. To accommodate voters with varying literacy levels, citizens vote using small glass marbles. Each voter drops a marble into a color-coded metal drum decorated with the candidate's photo. Inside each drum, a bicycle bell rings once the marble falls. If the bell rings more than once, poll workers immediately suspect double-voting.
• 🦜A birder's paradise — despite its tiny landmass, Gambia is a world-class destination for birdwatchers. The river basin, estuaries and forests host over 540 recorded bird species, making it an incredibly diverse avian habitat that attracts tourists and researchers from all corners of the globe.