Banjul

Banjul (formerly Bathurst) is the capital city of the Gambia. About 31,000 people live in the city. But the total urban area is many times larger with 413,397 people.  The city is on St Mary's Island (or Banjul Island) where the Gambia River enters the Atlantic Ocean.  The island is connected to the rest of Gambia by ferries to the north and bridges to the south. Banjul is the main urban area of The Gambia. It is the country's economic and administrative center.

Peanut processing is the main industry of the country. bee's wax, palm wood, palm oil, and animal skins are also transported from its port.

Things to see in the city include the Gambian National Museum, the Albert Market, Banjul State House, Banjul Court House, two cathedrals and several major mosques. The city is served by the Banjul International Airport.

 History 
In 1816, the British founded Banjul as a trading post. Banjul was also used to help stop the slave trade.  It was first named Bathurst after Henry Bathurst. The name was changed to Banjul in 1973.

Climate

Banjul has a very warm climate year round.  Under the Köppen climate classification, Banjul features a tropical wet and dry climate.  The city features a lengthy dry season, spanning from November to June and a relatively short wet season covering the remaining four months. However, during those four months, Banjul tends to see heavy precipitation.  August is usually the rainiest month, with on average more than 300 mm of precipitation falling.  Temperatures are somewhat constant, though it tends to be slightly cooler during the wet season than the dry season.

According to a Gambian government minister, Banjul is at risk of submerging under water by a metre rise in sea levels as a result of climate change and global warming.

The highest temperature recorded since records began in Banjul was 47.0 °C (116.6 °F) on 31 July 1980 and the lowest was 0.0 °C (32.0 °F) on 1 May 1976. The coldest day on record in Banjul was 18.0 °C (64.4 °F) on 4 March 1988 and the warmest night on record was 31.0 °C (87.8 °F) on 13 April 1988.

References

 Other websites 

 Banjul Photos, Hotels, Maps & Links
 Gambia Site with history of Banjul 

Category:Cities in the Gambia
Category:National capitals in Africa
Category:Local Government Areas of the Gambia