Destinations / The best countries in Africa / Mauritania

Total area: 1,030,700 km2
Population: 3,291,000 (2009 estimate)
Density: 3.2/km2
Currency: Ouguiya (MRO)
Official language: Arabic
Capital: Nouakchott
Government: Islamic republic
Internet TLD: .mr
Calling code: 222

  Mauritania is a country situated in Northern Africa and shares borders with Western Sahara in the north, Algeria in the northeast, the Atlantic Ocean in the west, Senegal in the southwest and Mali in the east and southeast.

  Mauritania is a gorgeous yet little-known Saharan country. In recent years there has been registered a remarkable increase in the number of tourists from Europe, but Mauritania awaits to be discovered by the American tourists as well. Tourists are attracted by the multiple ecotourism opportunities that the country offers, among which visits to the "Banc d'Arguin" coast and historical/cultural sites.

  The major tourist attractions are: the capital city, Nouakchott; the city of Atar – the former capital of the Almoravids kingdom; Chinguetti –the seventh most sacred city in Islam; mosques dating from the 13th century; the areas along the Senegal river; unique fauna in savanna; Banc d'Arguin National Park –home to a large range of bird species, which stop here while migrating between Europe and Africa. 

  Mauritania can be visited any time of the year, as the weather is beautiful all year round.

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Maps of Mauritania