Langue de Barbarie

[1] The peninsula separates the ocean from the final section of the Senegal River.

Covering an area of 2,000 hectares (4,900 acres), it is home to an abundant variety of bird species and three species of turtle, including the critically endangered hawksbill sea turtle.

[2] A 4 metres (13 ft) 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 (2,600 ft) and separated the southern end of the peninsula permanently from the main country, effectively transforming it into an island.

[5] As of December 2013[update] the sea had claimed over 3 km (1.9 mi) of land and had caused the loss of villages and tourist resorts in addition to changes in the flora and fauna of the peninsula.