Geography of Guinea Bissau – The Ultimate Free Guide 2021
- Guinea-Bissau is officially the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, is a country in West Africa.
- Guinea-Bissau was once part of the kingdom of Kaabu as well as part of the Mali Empire. Parts of this kingdom persisted until the 18th century, while a few others were under some rule by the Portuguese Empire since the 16th century. In the 19th century, it was colonized as Portuguese Guinea.
- Only about 2% of the population speaks Portuguese, the official language, as a first language, and 33% speak it as a second language. However, Creole is the national language and also considered the language of unity. According to a 2012 study, 54% of the population speak Creole as a first language and about 40% speak it as a second language.
Geography of Guinea Bissau
Large detailed Map of Guinea Bissau
- Guinea-Bissau is a member of the United Nations, African Union, Economic Community of West African States, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Community of Portuguese Language Countries, Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, and the South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone, and was a member of the now-defunct Latin Union.
Region:
There are three Regions in Guinea Bissau
- Leste (East): Bafatá, Gabu
- Norte (North): Biombo, Cacheu, Oio
- Sul (South): Bolama, Quinara, Tombali
Area:
36,125 km²
Capital:
Bissau
Population:
1.92 Millions
Bordering Countries:
- Senegal to the North,
- Guinea to the East and south, and
- The Atlantic Ocean to the west.
Water:
22.4
Geographical Coordinates:
11°52′N 15°36′W
World Region or Continent:
Africa
General Terrain:
The terrain of Guinea-Bissau is mostly low coastal plain with swamps of Guinean mangroves rising to Guinean forest-savanna mosaic in the east.
Geographical Low Point:
Atlantic Ocean
Geographical High Point:
The highest point on Guinea-Bissau is 300 metres above sea level at an unnamed location in the eastern part of the country.
Climate:
- Guinea-Bissau’s climate is tropical. This means it is generally hot and humid. It has a monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds and a dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds.
- Guinea-Bissau is warm all year around and there is little temperature fluctuation; it averages 26.3 °C (79.3 °F). The average rainfall for the capital city Bissau is 2,024 millimetres (79.7 in) although this is almost entirely accounted for during the rainy season which falls between June and September/October. From December through April, the country receives very little rainfall.
Major cities:
- Bissau
- Bafatá
- Gabú
- Bissorã
- Bolama
- Cacheu
- Bubaque
- Catió
- Mansôa
- Buba
- Quebo
- Canchungo
- Farim
- Quinhámel
- Fulacunda
Major Land forms:
- The land area of Guinea-Bissau is mostly savannah with low coastal plains either colonised by freshwater wetlands (most converted to rice paddies), salt marshes or fringing mangroves that line the river banks. At just over 36,000 sq km in area, Guinea-Bissau is one of the smallest West African countries
Major Rivers and Lakes:
Major Rivers:
- Cacheu River
- Farim River
- Canjambari River
- Ongueringão
- Elia River (Rio Elia)
- Mansoa River
- Rio Cana
- Bijemita
- Safim
- Rio Petu
- Rio Pefiné (Pefiné River)
- Geba River
- Corubal River (Cocoli River) (Koliba River)
- Colufe River
- Mabani
- Budace
- Louvado
- Rio Grande de Buba (Bolola River)
- Quinora
- Buduco
- Gam Tomé
- Tombali River
- Como River
- Cumbijã River
- Balana River
- Sanjota
- Cacine River
Major Lakes:
- Cufada Lagoon
- Vendu Barássià
- Vendu Boliangà
- Vendu Cambenha
- Vendu Cantoro
- Vendu Chamo
- Vendu Coli
- Vendu Culambai
- Vendu Diderè Nora
- Vendu Jangalá
- Vendu Massabo
Coastline:
350 KM
Natural Resources:
- Fish,
- Timber,
- Phosphates,
- Bauxite,
- Unexploited deposits of petroleum
Major Geographical Features:
Biomes & Ecosystems:
The Sudan–Guinea Savanna biome (A04), along with an area of forest-savanna transition, covers the rest of the country; to date, 22 species of this biome have been recorded. Guinea-Bissau is most important ornithologically for its coastal wetlands.
Oceans:
Atlantic Ocean
Islands:
- Roxa
- Ilha de Bolama
- Carache
- Ilha de Uno
- Ilha de Bubaque
Mountain Ranges:
- Dongol Rondè
- Guinea-Bissau high point.
- Felo Orè Quebègèum.
- Felo Orè Suaibo.
- Dongol Orè Lugajoleum.
- Felo Lugajòlèum.
- Felo Lugajole.
- Dongol Chancum Adul
Administrative Map of Guinea Bissau
Guinea Bissau On World Map
See Also:
