Coastline of Senegal, the Gambia and Guinea-Bissau - November 26th, 2008
This full resolution image give us a fine view of the West African coast, from Dakar, Senegal (top left) to Cacine, Guinea-Bissau (bottom right), passing through The Gambia in the center. Moving southward, the terrain changes from arid desert to forest.
It also allows us to see many rivers flowing out into the Atlantic Ocean. The river located at the point where the terrain changes from tan to green is the Gambia River, 1,130 km (700 mi) long, reaching the Atlantic Ocean near the city of Banjul.
Further south, in Senegal, is the Casamance River, 320km (200mi) in length. Moving down into Guinea-Bissau, we have the Cacheu River (Farim River), 257 km long.
Continuing south through Guinea Bissau, the most visible river is the Geba, appearing tan due to sediments. As it flows past the capital city of Bissau and through the Bissagos Archipelago, we can see the sediments filter out into the Atlantic Ocean.
The Bissagos Archipelago, also known as the Bissagos Islands or the Arquipélago dos Bijagós, is a group of 18 major islands and dozens of smaller ones that constitute a UNESCO biosphere reserve.
South of the Geba River is the Corubal River, one of the Geba’s tributaries.
