Mauritania: Geography#
| Location | Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Senegal and Western Sahara |
|---|---|
| Geographic Coordinates | 20 00 N, 12 00 W 20.0,-12.0 |
| Area | total: 1,030,700 sq km land: 1,030,700 sq km water: 0 sq km [Verified in 8 databases] |
| 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 |
| Elevation Extremes | lowest point: Sebkhet Te-n-Dghamcha -5 m highest point: Kediet Ijill 915 m |
| Highest Mountains | |
| Terrain | mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central hills |
| Natural Hazards | hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows primarily in March and April; periodic droughts |
| Natural Resource | iron ore, gypsum, copper, phosphate, diamonds, gold, oil, fish |
| Land Use | arable land: 0.44% permanent crops: 0.01% other: 99.55% (2011) |
| Climate | desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty |
| Irrigated Land | 450.1 sq km (2004) |
| Renewable Water Resources | 11.4 cu km (2011) |
| Environment_CurrentIssues | overgrazing, deforestation, and soil erosion aggravated by drought are contributing to desertification; limited natural freshwater resources away from the Senegal, which is the only perennial river; locust infestation |
| Environment - international agreements | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
| Large Cities | Due to difference in city rankings taken from two data sources we are listing here both lists : According to Wolfram: Nouakchott; Nouadhibou; Kifah; Rusu; Kayhaydi According to Geonames: Nouakchott; Nouâdhibou; Néma; Kaédi; Rosso Attempted Explanation: Please help us to try to explain the discrepancies by sending us helpful information to office nospam@TUGraz.at @global-geography.org Important Cities |
| Geography-note | most of the population is concentrated in the cities of Nouakchott and Nouadhibou and along the Senegal River in the southern part of the country |