Location
Mauritania is a country in Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Senegal and Western Sahara, Mali and Algeria. It is considered part of both the Sahel and the Maghreb.
Area
total: 1,030,700 kmē
land: 1,030,400 kmē
water: 300 kmē
Land boundaries
total: 5,074 km
border countries: Algeria 463 km, Mali 2,237 km, Senegal 813 km, Western Sahara 1,561 km
Coastline
754 km
Maritime claims
contiguous zone: 24 nautical miles
continental shelf: 200 nautical miles or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles
territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
Climate
Desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty
Terrain
Mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central hills
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Sebkha de Ndrhamcha -3 m
highest point: Kediet Ijill 910 m
Natural resources
iron ore, gypsum, fish, copper, phosphate
Land use
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 38%
forests and woodland: 4%
other: 58% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land
490 kmē (1993 est.)
Natural hazards
hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows primarily in March and April; periodic droughts
Environment - current issues
overgrazing, deforestation, and soil erosion aggravated by drought are contributing to desertification; very limited natural fresh water resources away from the Senegal which is the only perennial river
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Cities
Most of the population concentrated in the cities of Nouakchott and Nouadhibou and along the Senegal River in the southern part of the country.
See also List of cities in Mauritania.
External link
Last updated: 09-12-2005 02:39:13
