Senegal facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Republic of Senegal
République du Sénégal  (French)
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: "Un Peuple, Un But, Une Foi" (French)
"One People, One Goal, One Faith"
Anthem: Pincez Tous vos Koras, Frappez les Balafons
Everyone strum your koras, strike the balafons
Location of  Senegal  (dark blue)– in Africa  (light blue & dark grey)– in the African Union  (light blue)
Location of  Senegal  (dark blue)

– in Africa  (light blue & dark grey)
– in the African Union  (light blue)
Capital
and largest city		 Dakar
Official languages French
Recognised regional languages
  • Wolof
  • Soninke
  • Serer
  • Fula
  • Maninka
  • Jola
Ethnic groups
  • 43.3% Wolof
  • 23.8% Fula
  • 14.7% Serer
  • 3.7% Jola
  • 3.0% Mandinka
  • 1.1% Soninke
  • 1.0% European / Lebanese
  • 9.4% others
Demonym Senegalese
Government Semi-presidential republic
 -  President Macky Sall
 -  Prime Minister Mohammed Dionne
Legislature Parliament
 -  Upper house Senate (disbanded)
 -  Lower house National Assembly
Independence
 -  from Francea 20 June 1960 
 -  Withdrawal from
the Mali Federation		 20 August 1960 
Area
 -  Total 196,712 km2 (87th)
76,000 sq mi
 -  Water (%) 2.1
Population
 -  2013 estimate 13,567,338 (67th)
 -  2013 census 13,508,715
 -  Density 68.7/km2 (134th)
177.7/sq mi
GDP (PPP) 2012 estimate
 -  Total $26.574 billion
 -  Per capita $2,026
GDP (nominal) 2012 estimate
 -  Total $13.864 billion
 -  Per capita $1,057
Gini (2011) 40.3
medium
HDI (2013) Decrease 0.485
low · 163rd
Currency CFA franc (XOF)
Time zone UTC
Drives on the right
Calling code +221
Internet TLD .sn
a. With French Sudan, as the Mali Federation.

The Republic of Senegal (French République da Sénégal) is a country in West Africa. The capital is Dakar. Senegal covers a land area of almost 197,000 square kilometres. It has population of about 13 million. The climate is tropical with two seasons: the dry season and the rainy cold season . Senegal was given independence by France in 1960.

Major industries are fish processing, phosphate mining, fertilizer production, petroleum refining, construction materials, ship construction and repair. Peanuts, sugarcane, cotton, green beans, industrial tomato, cherry tomato, melon, and mango are important cash crops.

French is the official language. Since April 2012 Senegal's president has been Macky Sall.

History

In the 15th century, Portuguese people came to Gorée Island off the coast of Dakar. In the 17th century, French people and Dutch people came there, too. These European countries used the island as a trading post in slaves from the mainland, controlled by the Muslim Wolof Empires. Slavery was later made illegal by France, but soon after, around 1850, the French started to conquer the Wolof. By 1902 Senegal was a part of the French colony French West Africa.

In January 1959, Senegal and the French Sudan became one to form the Mali Federation, which became fully independent on June 20, 1960, as a result of the independence and transfer of power agreement signed with France on April 4, 1960. This did not last long and Senegal and Mali broke apart into separate nations. Between 1982 and 1989 Senegal and The Gambia joined together to make Senegambia.

Geography

In the north of Senegal is the Senegal River. To the north of the river is Mauritania. The nation borders Mali in the east, Guinea-Bissau in the south, and Guinea in the south-east. The Gambia is another country inside of Senegal, along the Gambia River. It is about 300 km long.

The north of Senegal is part of the Sahel. The highest mountain is 581 m high. The rainy season is between June and October. The average temperature on the coast is about 24° C, and inland about 27° C.

Regions

  • Dakar
  • Diourbel
  • Fatick
  • Kaffrine
  • Kaolack
  • Kédougou
  • Kolda
  • Louga
  • Matam
  • Saint-Louis
  • Sédhiou
  • Tambacounda
  • Thiès
  • Ziguinchor

Images for kids

  • Colonial Saint Louis

    Colonial Saint Louis c. 1900. Europeans and Africans on the Rue Lebon.

  • Macky Sall

    Macky Sall, President of Senegal (2012–present)

  • Abdoulaye Wade in 16-05-2007

    Abdoulaye Wade, President of Senegal (2000–2012)

  • 20130609-DSC 8905 (9087319520)

    Land mines were widely used in the Casamance conflict between separatist rebels and the central government.

  • Casamance landscape

    Landscape of Casamance

  • Ngor Beach

    Beach at N'Gor

  • Senegal Export Treemap

    A proportional representation of Senegal's exports.

  • 20130513-DSC 8564 (8750149526)

    Fishing boats in Dakar

  • Senegal-demography2004

    Senegal's population from 1962 to 2004.

  • PICT5483

    A street market in Malem-Hodar.

  • Dakar Roofs - Beach & Ocean (5651584098)

    Aerial view of Yoff Commune, Dakar

  • Touba moschee

    The Great Mosque of Touba, home of the Mouride Sufi brotherhood, it is also one of the finest examples of Islamic architecture in Africa.

  • Dakar cathedrale

    The Dakar Cathedral.

  • Touba3

    Boys studying Quran, Touba

  • Senegal students

    Students in Senegal

  • Le Monument de la Renaissance africaine

    The African Renaissance Monument built in 2010 in Dakar is the tallest statue in Africa.

  • Solo cissokho DSC 0448

    Kora player from Senegal

  • MurPeint-ElHadjDiouf-Dakar-Sénégal

    Painting of footballer El-Hadji Diouf in Dakar


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