The Gambia River is a major West African waterway that flows 1,120 kilometres from the Fouta Djallon plateau in northern Guinea westward through Senegal and The Gambia to the Atlantic Ocean at Banjul.
Navigable for roughly half its length, the river forms the geographical and political spine of The Gambia, the smallest country on mainland Africa, which occupies the downstream section and both banks. The river has long served as a vital artery for trade, transport and settlement in the region. Historically known as the River Gambra, it was documented by Portuguese and French explorers and merchants, reflected in its variant names in those languages — Rio Gâmbia and Fleuve Gambie. The Gambia River basin supports diverse ecosystems and communities across multiple nations, though the river is most closely identified with the narrow riverside state that takes its name.
