Langue de Barbarie



The Langue de Barbarie (French for "Barbary spit of land", named after the Barbary Coast) is a thin, sandy peninsula, adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean, located in western Senegal, in the neighbourhood of the city of Saint-Louis. The peninsula separates the ocean from the final section of the Senegal River.

National park
The Langue de Barbarie National Park (Parc National de la Langue de Barbarie) is located at the southern edge of the peninsula. Covering an area of 2000 ha, it is home to an abundant variety of bird species and three species of turtle, including the critically endangered hawksbill sea turtle. The park was named a Ramsar site in 2021.

2003 breach and environmental disaster
A 4 m breach was cut in the peninsula near the city of Saint-Louis on 3 October 2003 to help counter possible flooding. However, the breach quickly widened to 800 m and separated the southern end of the peninsula permanently from the main country, effectively transforming it into an island. the sea has claimed over 3 km of land and has caused the loss of villages and tourist resorts in addition to changes in the flora and fauna of the peninsula. By January 2020, the breach had widened to 6 km.