Mauritania

Mauritania is a country located in North West Africa with 3.3 million inhabitants. Neighboring countries are Western Sahara, Algeria, Mali and Senegal. The republic has a coastline along the Atlantic Ocean. Mauritania is 24 times the size of the Netherlands and consists of two-thirds of desert areas (the Sahara and Adrar) with oases, endless sand plains, deep black rock plateaus (erg's) and sand dunes. Savannah areas are located in the south. The banks of the Senegal River provide fertile land with lots of agriculture. Long sandy beaches lie on the coast. There is a desert climate. The capital Nouakchott has 1 million inhabitants. Sights include the national museum, the Saudi Mosque, the fishing port and the Plage de Pêcheurs. Other cities are Néma, Rosso, Kiffa, Aleg, Kaédi, Zouérat, Aioun el Atrouss, Sélibaby, Atar and Boutilimit. The UNESCO World Heritage Site includes the Banc d'Arguin National Park and the old ksour of Ouadane, Chinguetti, Tichitt and Oualata. Other places of interest are the Tergit oasis, the Dakar rally, the prehistoric petroglyphs, the mosques of Tichît, the bird places along the Senegal river, the fishing town of Nouâdhibou and the archaeological sites at Koumbi Saleh.