Biombo, region located in western Guinea-Bissau. Biombo region
surrounds (but does not administratively include) Bissau, the
national capital. The regional capital is located at Quinhámel.
The western and northern borders of the region are formed by the
Mansôa River, which flows east-west and empties into the
Atlantic Ocean. The western half of the region is forested with
mangroves. In the east are dispersed grazing land for cattle,
sheep, and goats as well as scattered farmland used for
subsistence agriculture that produces corn (maize), millet, and
sorghum. Rice and oil palms are cultivated throughout the
region. A road from Quinhámel stretches southwestward to the
Atlantic Ocean and southeastward to Bissau. The Pepel are the
main ethnic group; the other groups are the Balante and the
Malinke. Pop. (2004 est.) 63,835.