Short facts about the geography of Mauritania

Location:

Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Senegal and Western Sahara

Geographic coordinates:

20 00 N, 12 00 W

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total:  1,030,700 sq km land:  1,030,400 sq km water:  300 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than three times the size of New Mexico

Land 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

Maritime claims:

contiguous zone:  24 NM continental shelf:  200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone:  200 NM territorial sea:  12 NM

Climate:

desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty

Terrain:

mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central hills

Elevation extremes:

lowest point:  Sebkha de Ndrhamcha -3 m highest point:  Kediet Ijill 910 m

Natural resources:

iron ore, gypsum, fish, copper, phosphate, diamonds, gold

Land use:

arable land:  0% permanent crops:  0% permanent pastures:  38% forests and woodland:  4% other:  58% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land:

490 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards:

hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows primarily in March and April; periodic droughts

Environment - current issues:

overgrazing, deforestation, and soil erosion aggravated by drought are contributing to desertification; very limited natural fresh water resources away from the Senegal which is the only perennial river

Environment - international agreements:

party to:  Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified:  none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

most of the population concentrated in the cities of Nouakchott and Nouadhibou and along the Senegal River in the southern part of the country

Source: World Factbook