Map - Upper River Division (Upper River)

Upper River was one of the five Divisions of the Gambia. Its capital was Basse Santa Su. It was subsequently reorganised as the Basse Local Government Area, without any change in the area covered.

Per 2013 census, the region had a population of 239,916 with a population density of 116. The total number of households was 12,454 as of 2003. As of 2003, the total area of the region is 2069.5 km2. The infant mortality rate was 82 for every thousand births and the under-five mortality was 110 per every thousand births. The poverty gap ratio was 25.9 per cent as of 2003 and the literacy rate was 49.5 per cent.

The Gambia is the smallest country in Africa and the width of its strip-like territory never exceeds 48 km. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and 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 cash crop. The weather is usually warm and dry. The elevation of the country reaches to a maximum of 50 m above 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 487 km, there are numerous creeks, which are locally called bolongs. The months from June to September experience a wet season, while the remaining seven months are dry. The average annual rainfall is around 1400 mm in the south-east, while it is 720 mm 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.