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Banjul

Capital of GambiaBanjul is built on St Mary's Island, where the Gambia River flows into the Atlantic Ocean. Bridges link the island to the mainland on the west, and ferries cross the wide river mouth to Barra.

Why it's the capital

In 1816 the British set up a trading post and garrison on the island to control the entrance to the Gambia River and to fight the slave trade. The town became the centre of British activity in the Gambia and was officially declared the capital in 1889.

Fun facts

  1. Until 1973 the city was called Bathurst, after the British Earl Bathurst, who was in charge of the colonies when it was founded.
  2. The British laid out the streets in a grid and named them after generals who fought at the Battle of Waterloo.
  3. Arch 22, a 35-metre gateway at the entrance to the city, was built to mark the military takeover of 22 July 1994 and holds a textile museum.

Finding it on the globe

Gambia is the narrow country along the Gambia River, with Senegal on every side except the sea. Tap the river's mouth on the Atlantic: Banjul is on the island at its southern side.

Sources: Wikipedia: Banjul, Wikipedia: The Gambia