Senegal’s climate is conditioned by the tropical latitude of the country and by the seasonal migration of the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ)—the line, or front, of low pressure at which hot, dry continental air meets moist oceanic air and produces heavy rainfall. The prevailing winds are also characterized by their origin: the dry winds that originate in the continental interior and the moist maritime winds that bring the rains.

The dry winds, sometimes called the dry monsoon, consist of the northeast trade winds. In winter and spring, when they are strongest, they are known as the harmattan. They bring no precipitation apart from a very light rain, which the Wolof people of Senegal call the heug. The moist rain-bearing winds blow primarily from the west and northwest. Beginning in June with the northward passage of the ITCZ, these winds usher in the summer monsoon. As the ITCZ returns southward beginning in September, the rainy season draws to a close. The slow north-south migration of the ITCZ results in a longer, heavier rainy season in the southern part of the country.

From the combination of these factors, three principal climate zones may be distinguished: coastal, Sahelian, and Sudanic. The coastal (Canarian) zone occurs along a strip of Atlantic coastline about 10 miles (16 km) wide running from Saint-Louis to Dakar. Its winters are cool, with minimum temperatures reaching about 63 °F (17 °C) in January; maximum temperatures in May do not exceed 81 °F (27 °C). The rains begin in June, reach their height in August, and cease in October. The average annual rainfall is about 20 inches (500 mm).

The Sahelian climate occurs in an area bounded to the north by the Sénégal River and to the south by a line running from Thiès (a town on Cape Verde Peninsula) to Kayes in the neighbouring country of Mali. The weather there in January is also cool, especially in the mornings before sunrise, when the temperature drops to about 57 °F (14 °C); afternoon temperatures, however, may top 95 °F (35 °C). In May minimum temperatures are no lower than about 72 °F (22 °C), and maximums often rise above 104 °F (40 °C). The dry season is quite distinct and lasts from November to May. Certain places, such as Podor and Matam on the border of Mauritania, are particularly noted for their dryness and heat. Between July and October the rainfall averages about 14 inches (360 mm), moderating the temperature somewhat, while maximum temperatures reach about 95 °F (35 °C).

The Sudanic zone in the southern half of the country is generally hot, humid, and uncomfortable. Annual precipitation varies from north to south. In the Kaolack-Tambacounda vicinity, rainfall averages between 29 inches (740 mm) and 39 inches (990 mm), occurring on about 60 days between June and October. Cultivation without irrigation is possible here. Annual rainfall in the Gambian area frequently amounts to 50 inches (1,270 mm), resulting in the growth of a continuous belt of light forest and patches of herbaceous undergrowth. In the southern Casamance area it exceeds 50 inches, falling on 90 days of the year. The forest there is dense, green, and continuous, without undergrowth, and oil palms, mangroves, and rice fields are characteristic.

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Plant and animal life

Plant life in Senegal varies among the climate zones and seasons. The northern half of the country consists of a mix of shrub and tree steppes and shrub and tree savannas. The herbaceous cover, green and lush during the rainy season, all but disappears during the dry season. When available, this cover is used for grazing by livestock. Thorn bushes and baobab and acacia trees, including gum arabic trees, are common to this area.

Savanna woodlands and dry woodlands are typical in the southern half of Senegal; more than 80 woodland species are found in this area. Brisk vegetation growth is generated by the first precipitation of the rainy season. Annual bush fires contribute to maintaining open areas throughout the region. Acacia and baobab trees are also found here, as are mahogany trees. Much of the natural vegetation in the western area of this region has been modified through the clearing of land for agricultural use.

In the extreme southwest area of Senegal, there are dense forests and mangrove swamps. Mangrove trees, oil palms, teak trees, and silk cotton trees are common here.

Although large mammals have disappeared from the western part of the country, having been displaced by human settlement, such animals as elephants, antelopes, lions, panthers, cheetahs, and jackals may still be encountered in Niokolo Koba National Park in the eastern part of the country. Herds of warthogs abound in the marshes, especially those of the False Delta. Hares are ubiquitous, and monkeys of all types congregate in noisy bands, above all in the upper Gambia and upper Casamance river valleys. Among the great numbers of birds, the red-billed quelea, or “millet eater,” which destroys crops, is notable, as are the partridge and the guinea fowl. Reptiles are numerous and include pythons, as well as cobras and other venomous snakes. Crocodiles, hippopotamuses, and turtles are found in the rivers. The rivers and the coastal waters are rich in fish and crustaceans. Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary, designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1981, contains more than a million birds, including the African spoonbill, the purple heron, the white pelican, and the cormorant. Niokolo Koba National Park was also named a World Heritage site in 1981. Basse-Casamance National Park, located in the southwestern portion of the country, is home to hippopotamuses, leopards, crocodiles, and buffalo.

Ethnic groups

The Wolof comprise about two-fifths of the total population, and their language is the most widely used in the republic. Under the traditional Wolof social structure, similar to those of other groups in the region, people were divided into the categories of freeborn (including nobles, clerics, and peasants), caste (including artisans, griots, and blacksmiths), and enslaved people. The Serer, numbering slightly more than one-seventh of the population, are closely related to the Wolof. The Tukulor make up more than one-fourth of the population. The Tukulor are often hard to distinguish from the Wolof and the Fulani, for they have often intermarried with both. The Diola and the Malinke constitute a small portion of the population. Other small groups consist of such peoples as the Soninke, rulers of the ancient state of Ghana; the Mauri, who live primarily in the north of the country; the Lebu of Cape Verde, who are fishermen and often wealthy landowners; and the Basari, an ancient people who are found in the rocky highlands of Fouta Djallon.