Geography of Mauritania
Location
Mauritania is a Northern Africa country, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Senegal and Western Sahara.
border countries:
Algeria 463 km, Mali 2,237 km, Senegal 813 km, Western Sahara 1,561 km
Geographic coordinates
20 00 N, 12 00 WMap references
AfricaArea
total:
1,030,700 kmÃÂò
land:
1,030,400 kmÃÂò
water:
300 kmÃÂòArea - comparative
slightly larger than three times the size of New MexicoLand boundaries
total:
5,074 kmCoastline
754 kmMaritime claims
contiguous zone:
24 nautical miles
continental shelf:
200 nautical miles or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone:
200 nautical miles
territorial sea:
12 nautical milesClimate
Desert; constantly hot, dry, dustyTerrain
Mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central hillsElevation extremes
lowest point:
Sebkha de Ndrhamcha -3 m
highest point:
Kediet Ijill 910 mNatural resources
iron ore, gypsum, fish, copper, phosphateLand use
arable land:
0%
permanent crops:
0%
permanent pastures:
38%
forests and woodland:
4%
other:
58% (1993 est.)Irrigated land
490 kmÃÂò (1993 est.)Natural hazards
hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows primarily in March and April; periodic droughtsEnvironment - 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 riverEnvironment - 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 agreementsGeography - 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.