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Basic Facts |
Country name |
conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Mauritania
conventional short form: Mauritania local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Islamiyah al Muritaniyah local short form: Muritaniyah |
Gevernment type | republic |
Capital |
name: Nouakchott
geographic coordinates: 18 06 N, 15 57 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) |
Flag description | green with a yellow five-pointed star above a yellow, horizontal crescent; the closed side of the crescent is down; the crescent, star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam |
Currency | ouguiya (MRO) |
Internet country code | .mr |
Ports and terminals | Nouadhibou, Nouakchott |
Agriculture products | dates, millet, sorghum, rice, corn; cattle, sheep |
Industries | fish processing, mining of iron ore and gypsum |
Geography |
Location | Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Senegal and Western Sahara |
Coordinates | 20 00 N, 12 00 W |
Continent | Africa |
Area |
total: 1,030,700 sq km
land: 1,030,400 sq km water: 300 sq km |
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 |
Climate | desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty |
Terrain | mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central hills |
Natural resources | iron ore, gypsum, copper, phosphate, diamonds, gold, oil, fish |
Natural hazards | hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows primarily in March and April; periodic droughts |
People |
Population | 3,177,388 (July 2006 est.) |
Ethnic groups | mixed Maur/black 40%, Moor 30%, black 30% |
Religions | Muslim 100% |
Languages | Arabic (official), Pulaar, Soninke, French, Hassaniya, Wolof |