Littoral Regime: The NW swell is, thus, the main factor controlling the regional coastal morphology. It induces a major south-going sedimentary transit owing to the genegal coast orientation, running in a north-south direction. The west-east oriented coast in between Cape Saint Mary and Banjul, however, experiences an east-going littoral drift which is strengthened by the flood-dominated tidal flows running close to the shore. These two mechanisms thus promote a littoral drift directed from Buniadu Point in the North and Cape Saint Mary in the West towards the estuary mouth, which acts as a sediment sink. This is due to the fact that the Gambia estuary constitutes a drowned valley still in the process of being filled up, both from the river and the sea. To the South of Bald Cape, the north-south coast again experiences a predominant south- going littoral drift, as evidenced by the distinct zeta shape of the beaches in between the various headlands. Along the SW-NE running coast in between Cape Saint Mary and Bald Cape, a divergence point in the littoral drift system is thus apparent, sediment being transported in opposite directions towards Banjul Point in the north-east, with the estuary acting as sink, and Kartong Point in the South, where the accumulation development across Allahein River forms the terminus of the south going drift. As a consequence, it may be concluded that the whole of this coastal region has for a long time been in a state of erosion, owing to its natural development, as induced by the littoral regime and by sea level rise. Over the past decades, human interventions also play a significant role. The building construction boom in the coastal zone which is related to urban developments and particularly the tourist industry, has led to widespread removal of the natural vegetation cover and dune formation (rendering the coast more vulnerable to erosion) and mining of significant quantities of sand from the beaches, which has now been halted by the authorities. Estimates of the littoral drift along the open Atlantic coast have been made on basis of the extensive spit development over some 20 km at the mouth of the Saloum River (Sangomar spit) and amount to some 100,000 to 250,000 m”/yr. These figures may equally be applicable to the coast South of Bald Cape. The mechanism of sediment transport along the coast to the East of Cape Saint Mary are complicated by the fact that along this bay coast sheltering of ocean waves takes place concurrently with increased tidal influence by flood-dominated flows. From the distinct offshore bar bypassing at Oyster Creek it may be inferred on the basis of governing rules for tidal inlets that, the littoral drift along this coastal stretch must be in the order of 30,000 to 100,000 rn3/yr at most. Possible sources of sediment for this littoral drift system are the coast itself through erosion, and the sediment yields from watersheds into the coastal system. In the latter respect it can be noted that the Gambia River constitutes a sink rather than a source of sediments. The remaining rivers debauching at the coast have too limited catchments to produce any significant sediment yield. The only major river, the Allahein River, debouches its sediment yield to the South of Kartong Point, at the terminus of the coastal system. The above appraisal of the littoral drift system and yields of watersheds imply that on a yearly basis some 200,000 to 300,000 m” of sediment is lost through erosion of the Gambian coast line in between Banjul Point and Sanyang Point (the more southern stretch towards Kartong Point being relatively stable), i.e. an average erosion of some 1 to 1.5 m/yr along the entire coastal stretch of 20-25 km. The loss of land is 2.5-3 ha per year. As the cliffs and rocky platform cut into the sandstone of the “Continental terminal” are relatively hard (erosion rates 0.5 m/yr), the “production” of sediment through coastal erosion is even more important along the vulnerable and low sandy beaches. This is evidenced by the inventory of coastal erosion problems as given further on. The above coastal erosion resulting from the overall sediment balance, is further aggravated by the sea level rise (1 to 1.5 mm/yr) over the past century. Strictly, a change in sea level does not change the quantity of sediments forming the coastal system. However, the coastal system reacts with a redistribution of the sediments, maintaining the cross-sectional profile with respect to the sea level. At the present rate of sea level rise the apparent loss of sediments along the Gambian coast line is preliminary estimated at some 75,000 m”/yr, not yet accounting for the sediment loss via raising of the coastal plains. The effect of sea level rise on the coastal sediment balance is thus significant.  Beaches     Resorts