14°11′N16°15′W / 14.183°N 16.250°W /14.183; -16.250
Sine-Saloum is a region inSenegal located north ofthe Gambia and south of thePetite Côte. It encompasses an area of 24,000 squarekilometers, about 12% of Senegal, with a population in the 1990s of 1,060,000.[1]
The western portion contains theSaloum Delta, ariver delta at the junction of theSaloum and the North Atlantic. It is in this region that theSaloum Delta National Park is located. 145,811hectares of the Delta were designated aUNESCO Heritage Site in 2011.[2] Because it flows so slowly, this delta allows saltwater to travel deep inland.
Long ago, theSerer kingdoms ofSine andSaloum were rivals. In 1984, the area was divided into two administrative regions:Kaolack andFatick.
Primary economic activities in the 2000s consisted of fishing, salt production,peanut farming, andmillet farming.[1][3]
Transportation is difficult because of the many islands.
A secondary economy is the construction of fishing boats.
Much of the region consists ofmangrove swamps.[3] The upper reaches of the rivers adjoin theSahel region and are affected by itsdesertification. The salinity of the water increased during the 1970s instance of theSahel drought and mismanagement of the rivers upstream has been described as a factor.[3] Mangroves are disappearing, andfreshwater fish are disappearing with them. The villagers have difficulty obtainingfreshwater. Sometimes water pumps are donated by international organizations, but spare parts are difficult to find when the pumps fail. The change in water salinity is affecting the ecosystem as much as it is changing the lifestyle of the inhabitants of the region.
Sine-Saloum has long been feared by even Europe's most distinguished mariners because the sandbanks move, particularly inSangomar. This danger to outsiders has long protected the region and preserved its individual villages.
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