Gambia presents some ingenious display of nature's creativity that is visible within the monumental weavings of the wild creepers and gorgeous wings of the insects. The country appears attractive to visitors with its plethora of cultural, historical and natural wonders. Gambia is the smallest nation of Africa yet never falls short of piling up innumerable themes and places of interests. Located over the western-central terrain of the African continent, Gambia seems like an extension of the banks of River Gambia. It may also earn the reputation of being the narrowest nation in the world with being less than 48km wide at its greatest width. The topography of the country has hardly any variation with a small coastline by the Atlantic Ocean, the delta at the confluence of Gambia River and the ocean and the low-lying hills by the riverbanks.
Despite being a small territory, Gambia witnessed several invasion and settlements starting from the Arab traders to the Portuguese explorers, who were the first to encounter the Gambia River in 1455. The region was under the reign of Mali Empire at that time. Gambia became a British Crown colony in 1843 and an independent nation within the Commonwealth of Nations on February 18, 1965. Full independence was approved in a 1970 referendum, and on April 24 of that year Gambia proclaimed itself a republic.