Senegal River

The Senegal River is in West Africa.

It flows through the land of Senegal and Mauritania. Much of the river marks a border.

The river flows into the Atlantic Ocean.

A thin strip of sand sits near the mouth. This sand is called the Langue de Barbarie.

Some parts of the river split into two. These two branches join back together later. A long strip of land sits between them.

There are large dams on the river. These dams help make power. They also stop salt water from moving up the river.

Many people live near the water. It is a very important place for the land.

The Senegal River is in West Africa. It flows through Senegal and Mauritania. Much of the river marks the border between these two places.

The river starts in Guinea. The Semefé and Bafing rivers come together to form it. It flows west and then north. It passes through many lands. It flows through semi-arid land in the north of Senegal.

Some parts of the river split into two branches. The left branch is called the Doué. The two branches join back together near Podor. A long strip of land sits between them. This land is called the Île á Morfil.

There are large dams on the river. The Manantali Dam is in Mali. The Maka-Diama Dam is on the border of Mauritania and Senegal. These dams help make power. They also stop salt water from moving up the river.

Long ago, people called it the "River of Gold." This was because it reached the Ghana and Mali empires.

The river ends at the Atlantic Ocean. A thin strip of sand sits near the mouth. It is called the Langue de Barbarie.

The Senegal River is a major waterway in West Africa. Much of its length forms the border between Senegal and Mauritania. The river's name comes from the Serer people. It combines the word "Seen" for their supreme deity with "O Gal," meaning a body of water.

The river has a very large drainage basin. It carries a huge amount of water every year. This water flows through many different landscapes and countries.

The river begins in Guinea with two smaller rivers. These are the Semefé and the Bafing rivers. They meet at a place called Bafoulabé in Mali. From there, the river flows west and then north. It passes through the Talari Gorges and over the Gouina Falls.

The river also picks up other streams along its path. These include the Falémé, Karakoro, and Gorgol rivers. In one spot near Kaédi, the river actually splits into two branches. The left branch is called the Doué. These two branches rejoin near the town of Podor.

People have known about this river for a very long time. Early Mediterranean civilizations knew of it. Some ancient writers even called it "Bambotus."

In the Middle Ages, Arab geographers wrote many descriptions of the river. They sometimes called it the "Western Nile." They thought it might be connected to the Nile River in Egypt. Because the river reached the gold-rich Ghana and Mali empires, traders called it the "River of Gold."

Today, several countries work together to look after the river. In 1972, Mali, Mauritania, and Senegal formed a group called the OMVS. Guinea joined this group in 2005. They manage how the water is used by everyone.

There are also large dams built along the river. The Manantali Dam is in Mali. The Maka-Diama Dam sits on the border of Mauritania and Senegal. These dams help create electricity for people to use. They also stop salt water from the ocean from moving too far up the river.

The river eventually reaches the Atlantic Ocean. Near the end, it flows around the island where the city of Saint-Louis sits.

A thin strip of sand called the Langue de Barbarie separates the river from the sea. The river is home to many living things. Its animals are closely linked to those in the Gambia River basin. Together, these areas are called the Senegal-Gambia Catchments. Only a few special types of frogs and fish live only in this specific area.

The Senegal River is a major waterway in West Africa. It plays a vital role in the region's geography and history. Much of its length forms a border between Senegal and Mauritania. The name comes from the Serer people. It combines the term "Seen," meaning a supreme deity, with "O Gal," meaning a body of water.

The river begins in Guinea with two headwaters. These are the Semefé and Bafing rivers. They flow together at Bafoulabé in Mali. From there, the river moves west and then north. It passes through the Talari Gorges and over the Gouina Falls.

The river grows larger as it picks up several tributaries. These include the Falémé, Karakoro, and Gorgol rivers. Near Kaédi, the river divides into two distinct branches. The left branch is called the Doué. It runs parallel to the main river until they rejoin near Podor. A long strip of land called Île á Morfil sits between these branches.

Managing such a large system requires international cooperation. In 1972, Mali, Mauritania, and Senegal founded the Organisation pour la mise en valeur du fleuve Sénégal, or OMVS. This group manages the river basin for all members. Guinea joined the organization in 2005.

The OMVS is studying a way to make the river navigable. They want to create a channel between Ambidédi in Mali and Saint-Louis. This channel would be 300 meters wide. It would provide landlocked Mali with a direct route to the Atlantic Ocean.

Human engineering has significantly changed the river's flow. There are two large dams along its course. The Manantali Dam is located in Mali. The Maka-Diama Dam sits on the border of Mauritania and Senegal. This dam prevents salt water from moving too far upstream. Between these two dams is the Félou Hydroelectric Plant. The original plant was built in 1927. It was replaced by a new station in 2014. In 2013, work began on the Gouina Hydroelectric Plant at Gouina Falls.

The river has a very long history of human interest. Early Mediterranean civilizations were aware of its existence. The writer Pliny the Elder called it "Bambotus." Claudius Ptolemy referred to it as "Nias."

In the Middle Ages, Arab geographers provided early descriptions. Al-Masudi, al-Bakri, and al-Idrisi all wrote about the river. Some geographers believed it was a "Western Nile." They thought it might connect to the Niger River or the Nile in Egypt.

Because the river reached the gold-rich Ghana and Mali Empires, it earned a famous nickname. Traders called it the "River of Gold." This reputation reached European merchants in Morocco. Some maps from the 14th century show this river.

These maps often depicted a great river island. This island was sometimes called "Wangara" or "Palolus." Scholars believe this might actually be the Bambuk-Buré goldfield district. This area is surrounded by several rivers, including the Senegal and the Falémé.

The river eventually meets the Atlantic Ocean. It flows around an island near the city of Saint-Louis.

A thin strip of sand called the Langue de Barbarie separates the river from the sea. The river's ecosystem is part of the Senegal-Gambia Catchments. This ecoregion combines the Senegal and Gambia River basins. The species richness in this area is moderately high. However, only three species of frogs and one fish are endemic to this specific region. This means they are found nowhere else on Earth.