SPACEPHOTOS

Dakar (with a population of approximately 2 million), the capital of Senegal, is situated on the very pronounced peninsula (near the northern edge of the photograph); the extreme western point on this peninsula is Cape Vert. Lying along the southwest coast of Senegal is a fairly extensive coastal wetlands area consisting of low-lying marshes, numerous stream tributaries, and stands of mangrove forests (darker areas). Banjul (formerly Bathurst) with a population of fewer than 50 000, the capital of Gambia, is located on a small peninsula on the south side of the mouth of the Gambia River. The wide estuary of the Gambia River, which also has mangrove stands, is easily seen near the southeast edge of the photograph. Rainfall amounts average more than 60 inches (152 centimeters) in the south and decrease to less than 10 inches (25 centimeters) in the north. Rice, cotton, and peanuts are the leading crops in these two agricultural countries.