The coast of Guinea-Bissau is a heavily cut ria coast with numerous mangrove sumps. Inside is a wide coastal plain that ends in the east towards low rivers from the Fouta Djalon Plateau in neighboring Guinea, with altitudes of up to 300 m. Here are deep, degraded valleys between flat-topped, laterite-covered ridges. The three largest rivers, Corubal, Gaba and Cachéu, flow westward from the plateau, and flow into the Atlantic Ocean through long estuaries.
The country belongs to the tropical climate zone. In the coastal areas the rainy season lasts 5 months with a maximum rainfall in July and August. The rainfall is approx. 2000 mm a year. April and May are the hottest months, with temperatures around 27 ° C, August is coolest, with temperatures around 25 ° C. In the interior of the country, the rainfall decreases to approx. 1500 mm, but the rainy season is longer and lasts between 7 and 8 months. In contrast, the drying time is more marked.
Plant and Wildlife in Guinea-Bissau
Along the coast, mangrove forests and coastal plain tropical rainforests grow. Inland is woodland savanna and savanna.
Wildlife has great similarities to neighboring Guinea, but species richness is somewhat less. Nearly 450 bird species have been observed in Guinea-Bissau. In the mangrove swamps, rose pelicans, snake necks, herons, icebergs and wintering waders live from Europe. Storks, ibises, cuckoos, bee-eater, leads, horn birds and Sunbird are among the most characteristic families.