Country The Gambia Local time Sunday 9:21 AM | Division Central River Division | |
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Weather 24°C, Wind N at 18 km/h, 39% Humidity | ||
Janjanbureh or Jangjangbureh is a town, founded in 1832, on Janjanbureh Island in the Gambia River in eastern Gambia. It was formerly known as Georgetown and was the second largest in the country. It is now the capital of the Central River Division and is best known as home to Gambia's main prison. The Wassu stone circles lie 22 km northwest of Lamin Koto, on the north bank across from Janjanbureh.
Map of Janjanbureh, The Gambia
It is also noted for being the site of the first church in Gambia and the first high school, according to one expatriate who was born there. It is the hometown of the Yale academic Lamin Sanneh.
The island is known locally as McCarthy Island, and is located in what used to be called McCarthy Island Division. The island is accessed by bridge from the south bank, and small boat ferries or government ferry on the north bank. In 1995, both the city of Georgetown and MacCarthy Island were renamed Janjanbureh respectively.
Janjanbureh is also the name of the district in which the town of Janjanbureh is located.