Mauritania

The Atlantic Ocean forms a 700-kilometer coastline along Mauritania's western border, while the Sahara Desert covers 90 percent of the territory.

After centuries under Berber and Arab control, Mauritania became a French colony in 1904 and achieved independence as an Islamic republic in 1960.

The population includes Bidhan and Haratin communities, with traditional nomadic lifestyles gradually shifting toward urban settlements in cities like Nouakchott.

Iron ore mining forms the economic backbone of Mauritania, with major extraction operations concentrated in the northern regions near Zoueratt.

The medieval libraries of Chinguetti contain thousands of ancient manuscripts, documenting Islamic scholarship from the 8th through 14th centuries.

Inception: November 28, 1960

Capital city: Nouakchott

Part of: West Africa, North Africa

Shares border with: Western Sahara, Algeria, Mali, Senegal, Spain, Francoist Spain

Address: Mauritania

GPS coordinates: 20.25404,-9.23993

Latest update: November 10, 2025 16:45