The old empire of Ghana is located about 400 miles northwest of modern day Ghana. In reality, they are two places with the same name. Modern day Ghana took the name of the famous ancient kingdom when they became the first African State to gain their independence in 1957. Today, Northern Senegal and Southern Mauritania lie where Ancient Ghana once was. Ghana was located in the savanna region, and just south of it lay rain forests where there was an abundance of gold found in streams and mine shafts. Ancient Ghana was divided into ten regions, Western Ghana, Central Ghana, Greater Accra, Eastern Ghana, Volta, Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, Northern Ghana, Upper West Ghana and Upper East Ghana. Vegetation grew mainly in the south western part of the Kingdom, as there was very little rain in the northern part. People known as the Soninke built the ancient kingdom, and it it said that they were attracted to the fertile lands between nearby rivers and decided to settle down. Firstly there were farming villages, however from discoveries found by archaeologists, we now know that Ghana's capital was a city comprised of two towns lying on a plain. One was inhabited by merchants and the other by the King and his court. the climate of Ancient Ghana for most of the year was dry and hot, however rainfall did occur in some parts during the year. Due to its geographic location on the trans- Saharan trade route, Ghana had a great advantage as merchants had to pass through it to exchange goods elsewhere. Unfortunately there is not a lot of information on the geography of Ancient Ghana, however we do know its close proximity to gold made the civilization flourish and become the main gold region.