Senegal

West Africa · Atlantic coast · geography

Westernmost mainland spot. Senegal is the farthest west you can go on mainland Africa while staying on the continent. It sits on the Atlantic Ocean coast and is like the gateway to West Africa from the ocean.

Nearly surrounds Gambia. Senegal almost completely wraps around a smaller country called Gambia, which sits along the Gambia River like a long, thin strip. The river is so important that it actually divides Senegal's southern region called Casamance from the rest of the country.

Capital city Dakar. Dakar is Senegal's biggest city and capital. It sits on the coast and is one of the most important cities in West Africa.

Bordered by four countries. Senegal shares land borders with Mauritania to the north, Mali to the east, Guinea to the southeast, and Guinea-Bissau to the southwest. It also has an ocean border with the island nation of Cape Verde.

Island neighbor Cape Verde. Out in the Atlantic Ocean, Senegal shares a maritime border with Cape Verde, which is a group of islands far from the mainland.