Brian Snyder, age 13, of Wilmington, Del., for his question:
WHERE IS GAMBIA?
Gambia is one of the smallest independent countries in Africa. It is a narrow strip of land that extends about 180 miles inland from the Atlantic coast of northern Africa along the banks of the Gambia River. Gambia is entirely surrounded by the country called Senegal.
In addition to being only 180 miles long, Gambia ranges from just 15 to 30 miles wide. The entire country is less than half the size of the state of Vermont.
Gambia is a very poor country and it doesn't have too many prospects for future development. It has poor soil and no valuable mineral deposits.
Most of Gambia's population, which is just over half a million, is engaged in farming. Peanuts account for almost all of the country's scanty income.
The country is flat with thick mangrove swamps, bamboo forests and sandy soil.
Gambia had its start as a slave trading center from which slaves were shipped to the West Indies and America. British settlers there formed a colony called Senegambia in the late 1700s. Banjul, a busy port on the Atlantic with a population of about 40,000, is now the capital and the country's only large town.
Gambia is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. It gained its independence from Britain in 1965 and became a republic in 1970. A president and his cabinet govern the country. The president selects the cabinet ministers from members of the parliament.
The people elect 32 of the 41 members of parliament for terms of up to five years. Tribal chiefs name four members from among themselves. The attorney general, who is the government's chief legal representative, is also a member, as are four nonvoting members who are nominated by the president.
Almost all of the people in Gambia are black Africans. There are five leading tribes in the country: Fulani, Jola, Walinke, Seraculeh and Wolof.
Almost all of the children living in and near Banjul attend school, but only about one third of the children in other parts of Gambia go to school. More schools are being built in rural areas, however.
Most schoolchildren complete a six year primary course, but only a few attend secondary schools. Gambia has a technical school in Banjul and a teacher training college in Yundum, which is near Banjul.
The Gambia River is one of Africa's finest waterways. The river winds through the country for about 295 miles. Small oceangoing ships can sail up to the town of Kuntaur, which is about 150 miles upstream from the coast.
Peanuts, which have been exported from Gambia since 1830, make up about 95 percent of the value of the country's exports. The only industry in Gambia is peanut processing. Great Britain is Gambia's most important trade partner.