Lower River Division

Lower River Division is one of the five administrative divisions of the Gambia. Its capital is Mansa Konko. The city and area council elections were held during April 2002, when Wally S.M. Sanneh, an APRC candidate became the Mayor, winning unopposed. The council was led by Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC), which won all the 12 seats. Per 2013 census, the region had a population of 82,361 with a population density of 051. The total number of households was 8,474 as of 2003. As of 2003, the total area of the region is 1618 km2. The infant mortality rate was 96 for every thousand births and the under-five mortality was 137 per every thousand births. Geography The Gambia is the smallest country in mainland Africa, and the width of the strip-like structure never exceeds . It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on the west, and is otherwise surrounded by Senegal. The Gambia River flows throughout the country and is the principal source of water and transport medium. The banks of the river have swampy beaches, while it has alluvial soil in all other parts, which is conducive for the growth of rice. Peanuts are the major cashcrop. The weather is usually warm and dry. The elevation of the country reaches to a maximum of above the mean sea level. There are vast segments of sedimentary sandstone and claystone in the valleys of the rivers and the regions surrounding it. The river flows from Guinea and has an east–west axis. The shallow water in the coastline are important sources of fishing. There are mangrove and banto forests along the coastline. Over the river segment of , there are numerous creeks, which are locally called boloons. The months from June to September experience a wet season, while the remaining seven months are dry. The average annual rainfall is around in the south east, while it is in the northwest. Experts have assessed that the overall rainfall during the century period between 1886 and 1992, there has been a reduction in rainfall of around 15-20 per cent and the wet season has been shortened. Demographics Per 2013 census, the region had a population of 82,361 with a population density of 051. The total number of households was 8,474 as of 2003. As of 2003, the total area of the region is 1618 km2. The infant mortality rate was 96 for every thousand births and the under-five mortality was 137 per every thousand births. The poverty gap ratio was 19.8 per cent as of 2003.