000 GRT or over) totaling 37,003 GRT/60,663 DWT (1997
est.)

Airports: 64 (1997 est.)

Airports-with paved runways:
total: 10
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1997 est.)

Airports-with unpaved runways:
total: 54
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 18
under 914 m: 26 (1997 est.)

@Gabon:Military

Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Republican Guard (charged
with protecting the president and other senior officials), National
Gendarmerie, National Police

Military manpower-military age: 20 years of age

Military manpower-availability:
males age 15-49: 277,850 (1998 est.)

Military manpower-fit for military service:
males: 142,334 (1998 est.)

Military manpower-reaching military age annually:
males: 11,352 (1998 est.)

Military expenditures-dollar figure: $154 million (1993)

Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 2.4% (1993)

@Gabon:Transnational Issues

Disputes-international: maritime boundary dispute with Equatorial
Guinea because of disputed sovereignty over islands in Corisco Bay

______________________________________________________________________

GAMBIA, THE

The Gambia

The Gambia
@Gambia, The:Geography

Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and
Senegal

Geographic coordinates: 13 28 N, 16 34 W

Map references: Africa

Area:
total: 11,300 sq km
land: 10,000 sq km
water: 1,300 sq km

Area-comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Delaware

Land boundaries:
total: 740 km
border countries: Senegal 740 km

Coastline: 80 km

Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 18 nm
continental shelf: not specified
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry
season (November to May)

Terrain: flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 53 m

Natural resources: fish

Land use:
arable land: 18%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 9%
forests and woodland: 28%
other: 45% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 150 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: rainfall has dropped by 30% in the last 30 years

Environment-current issues: deforestation; desertification;
water-borne diseases prevalent

Environment-international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
S