A Quick Tour of Senegal Trivia Quiz

Answer: North Atlantic Ocean

The capital of Senegal, Dakar, sits 14 degrees north of the Equator on the westernmost point of continental Africa looking over the North Atlantic Ocean. Senegal covers 196,723 square kms (76,000 sq mi) of Africa making it the 87th largest country on Earth. Algeria, the largest nation in Africa, is twelve times larger than Senegal.

In 2013, Senegal's population of approximately 13,500,000 people was roughly one-thirteenth that of the most populated nation in Africa, Nigeria, with its population of over 177,000,000.

Answer: Rolling hills

Rolling hills covered with grassy vegetation form most of the Senegalese countryside. The highest point (as yet unnamed) rises only 581m (1,906 ft) above sea level and lies in the southeast of the country in the Fouta Djallon hills.

Answer: Yes

Five countries share a border with Senegal including The Gambia which is almost surrounded by Senegal. The only break in the otherwise circumferential border around The Gambia is The Gambia's tiny frontage on the Atlantic Ocean. Senegal's shape is somewhat like a profile of a human face facing to the left, with The Gambia being a long, narrow mouth stretching east-west in Senegal. To the north lies Mauritania, to the east is Mali, the southeastern border is shared with Guinea while Guinea-Bissau lies directly south of Senegal.

The longest border is shared with Mauritania at 813 km (505 mi).

Answer: South

The wet season is brought about by southeasterly winds which bring moisture to a region parched after the dry season. The northern part of Senegal is much drier than the south, with the south being the wettest and greenest part of the country. The Atlas Mountains are located in northern Africa, stretching across Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia.

Answer: February

From May to November, Senegal is in its rainy season, particularly in the southern portion of Senegal. This area is the greenest part of Senegal, a transition area before the vegetation changes to become the rainforests of Africa in countries like neighbouring Guinea-Bissau and Guinea. During the wet season, the average maximum temperature in Dakar is 30C (86F) and the average minimum is 24C (76F). Temperatures in the interior of Senegal can be much hotter, particularly near the border with Mali. Dakar receives about 600mm (24 in) of rain a year, but in the south of Senegal, annual rainfall can be over 1500mm (59in).

In the drier months Senegal is treated to a hot, dry wind from the north called the harmattan. This wind blowing from the Sahara is often quite dusty. You'll need to plan your trip to Senegal depending on your preference for rainy and humid or dry and dusty.

Answer: Senegal River

The Senegal River is 1,790 km (1,112 mi) long and forms the border between Senegal and Mauritania for 813 km (505 mi). It also functions as part of the border between Senegal and Mali. Beginning in Guinea, the river traces a roughly northward course until it veers to the west before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean.

The Gambia River is 1,130 kilometres (700 mi) long, flowing from Guinea into Senegal and then through The Gambia before it also flows into the Atlantic. The Casamance and Geba Rivers also flow through Senegal but are significantly shorter than the other two rivers.

Answer: The Sahel

Lying to the north of Senegal is the Sahara Desert. To the south of Senegal you'll find the rainforests of Africa. In between is the Sahel, a region of gentle undulations and (relatively) moderate climate with two distinct seasons.

The region consists of a gently oscillating hills covered mainly by grasses, complemented by some woodlands. Grasslands stretch across the African continent in the Sahel and various species of acacia trees are commonly found. The Sahel is generally 2-400 m (656-1312 ft) above sea level with occasional small mountain ranges rising above the plains. These mountain ranges have different ecosystems from the flatter country surrounding them. There is a distinct variance in the flora and flora in the mountains from the plains.

Answer: Peanuts

Fertiliser production is an important industry in Senegal as is the petrol refining industry. As for agriculture, peanuts provide a regular income stream for the country as do cotton and fish.

Answer: A man, woman and child emerging from the ground

The African Renaissance Monument stands on top of a small hill and depicts a family group rising out of the hilltop and looking out to the Atlantic Ocean. While located in Senegal, the monument is a symbol for all of Africa which aims to move past the problems of history and achieve new heights in the development in various spheres. Dedication of the monument celebrated fifty years of Senegal's independence from France and was attended by nineteen African leaders as well as political figures such as Jesse Jackson.

Answer: Gorée Island

Lying just over a nautical mile off the coast of Dakar, Gorée Island is a small island a mere 18 hectares (45 acres) in area. The House of Slaves on the island was a staging point for slave traders who kept the slaves there before loading them onto ships through the 'Door of No Return', destined for a life of servitude in places far away from their homes.

The numbers of slaves transported via the House of Slaves varies widely. Some reports suggest over 100,000 slaves were moved through the house in a single year. That may be an exaggeration designed to inflate the legend of the island. Other historians suggest the total number to be about 26,000 during its life as a staging post for slavery from the 16th to 19th centuries. No matter what the accurate number might be, it doesn't diminish the symbolism of this house and island. Gorée Island has been visited by US Presidents G.W. Bush and Obama. The island was placed on the UNESCO Heritage List in 1978.