🎲

🌍 Countries of the world 🕌 Arab countries

Mauritania

Mauritania

📖 In short

Mauritania is an Arab country in West Africa, stretching from the Atlantic coast deep into the Sahara. It used to be called “the land of Chinguetti”, and its capital is Nouakchott. It's famous for its people's love of poetry and learning.

🤩 Did you know?

  • Mauritania's capital is Nouakchott.
  • Mauritania became independent in 1960.
  • The desert plateau covers about 85% of the country.
  • The currency is the ouguiya.

🗂️ Fact file

Flag of Mauritania
Flag of Mauritania
Part of the outskirts of Nouakchott
Part of the outskirts of Nouakchott

🔎 Find out more

🌟 Land of a million poets

Mauritanians love Arabic poetry, learning it by heart and composing it, so much that their country is called “the land of a million poets”.

🔍 Cities of manuscripts

In old desert towns like Chinguetti and Ouadane, family libraries keep very old Arabic manuscripts on science, religion and literature, cared for by families generation after generation.

💡 The Eye of the Sahara

In Mauritania's desert there's a huge circle of rock called “the Eye of the Sahara”, more than 40 kilometers across, and astronauts can see it clearly from space!

🎯 Sea and desert

Mauritania's coastal waters are rich in fish, and there's a nature park visited by millions of migrating birds. Many desert people live by raising camels.

🧩 Test yourself

1 What is Mauritania's nickname?

2 What is Mauritania's old name?

3 The desert plateau covers about ?? % of the country.

4 Which picture shows “Mauritania”?

🌍 Discover more

📷 Picture sources: Wikimedia Commons