Mauritania
|
| 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 |
