Senegal River relates the legend that both the Senegal and the Egyptian Nile were branches of the Biblical Gihon River that stems from the Garden of Eden and flows through Ethiopia. He also notes that the Senegal was called "the Niger" by the ancients - probably a reference to Ptolemy's legendary 'Nigir' (Νιγειρ) (below the Gir), which would be later identified by Leo Africanus with the modern Niger River. Much the same story is repeated by Marmol in 1573, with the additional note that both the Senegal River and Gambia River were tributaries of the Niger River. However, the contemporary African atlas
France–Senegal relations federation faltered and Senegal became an independent nation in August 1960. France and Senegal soon established diplomatic relations. Today, both France and Senegal work closely together in west African regional affairs, and maintain a close cultural and political relationship. In 2010, France closed its military base in Senegal, however, France maintains an air force base within the Léopold Sédar Senghor International Airport in Dakar. Trade between France and Senegal totaled €853 million Euros in 2015. Senegal is France's 57th largest trading partner globally and third largest from Africa. France is the largest foreign investor in Senegal with over €1.7 billion