A Brief History of Senegal


The history of Senegal, it is first of all empires and kingdoms, migrations and conquests, before the arrival of European settlers.

It is also the leading figures and famous men who have gradually shaped this country.
Chronology


There are ten million years - The volcano was active off the current Cap Vert peninsula. Cape Manuel, and the islands of Goree and Madeleines, formed of lava cooled, are witnesses of this volcanic episode. At the same time, to Diack (15 km south-east of Thies) and Bandia (on the road Thies Sindia), lava was rising to the surface, through huge chimneys or dykes.

1.5 to 1 million years BC - Homo Erectus reign on African savannas.

Fifth century - Creation of the Empire of Ghana.

The eighth to the eleventh century - Apogee of the empire which then covers part of eastern Senegal.

Eleventh century - beginning of Islamization by Almoradives and overthrow the empire of Ghana. Toucouleurs based empire Tukrur part of which covers northern Senegal.

Thirteenth century - The Mali Empire (Malinke) in the territory of Senegal.

Fifteenth century - Creation of empires Jolof, Sine and Saloum. At the same time, in the north of the kingdom of birth Fouta Toro.


1444 - The Portuguese reached the peninsula, which they call Cape Verde, and Goree, Senegal and the mouth of the following year.

Around 1500 - Creation of Portuguese trading. Gold mining and the slave trade.

1580 - The English attend the Guinea coast.

XVII / XIX centuries - Commerce slaves transported to America and European countries struggle to control counters. During this period, nearly 20 million Africans were enslaved as well.

1627 - The Dutch slave traders take over the colony of Goree.

1638 - The French created a counter in St. Louis.

1670 - The marabouts launch jihads against the Wolof. Holy wars will rage for two centuries throughout Senegal.

1677 - The French Vice-Admiral d'Estrees hunting the Dutch island of G

Rose Lake along the Grande Côte, 40 km north of Dakar on the Grande Côte, Lake Retba Sangalkam village is a natural curiosity, made famous by the arrival of Paris-Dakar rally.

It's called the Lac Rose because the high content of salt, algae and micro-organisms give the water a pink color. Depending on the time and the light it goes through all the shades of pink, purple until late afternoon.


With time, the drought has made the lake separating the Atlantic Ocean by an accumulation of sand, the dunes are now covered with palms and casuarinas.

The area of ​​the Lac Rose, 3 m deep, is decreasing. Because of its high salt content, from 380 to 400 g / l, can not drown, you can only float.

Around Lac Rose many camps and inns cater to tourists.

Lake 3 km ², divided into four sites Khar Yalla, Khoss, Virage and Daradji, supports more than 2,000 people, with salt mined since the 70s by more than 800 canoes, Senegalese villages, but also Guineans and Malians.


Transport of salt by canoe

Men, in water up to his chest and body coated with shea butter to protect their skin from the corrosive salt lake, break with a post called "Djodj" salt crusts deposited on the bottom before shovel to fill the boats with a capacity of one ton and a half.

Piles of salt on the shores of Lac Rose

Women are responsible for landing the canoes, salt is piled on the banks to dry and bleach in the sun for 4 days.

The 50,000 tons of salt are extracted each year to the conservation of fish and are mainly sold to neighboring countries.

Fishing boats in Kayar
Still on the Grande Côte, a dozen miles north of Lac Rose, Kayar is to discover its impressive number of canoes. This village is one of the largest fishing centers of Senegal.

In the dunes of fine sand and clear, called Niayes, you can see the palm groves and gardens where they grow much of the vegetables consumed in the country.