Mauritania
History
The Almoravid movement began among Sanhaja Berbers in the region.
Caravan towns such as Chinguetti served trans-Saharan trade and pilgrimage.
France established a protectorate.
Independence came on 28 November.
Mauritania became the last country in the world to formally abolish slavery.
Part ofAfricaMore countries, cities and routes.Short facts
RegionNorth Africa / Maghreb
LanguageArabic
Time zoneGMT (UTC+0)
Drives onRight
Worth seeing
- Chinguetti: A caravan town with surviving desert libraries, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
- Banc d'Arguin: A coastal park of vast wader flocks, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
- Richat Structure: A 40 km circular formation in the Sahara, visible from orbit.
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NouakchottPlanning questions
What is Mauritania known for?Chinguetti, Banc d'Arguin, Richat Structure.
What is the capital?Nouakchott.
Which language is useful?Arabic.
When is the national day?28 November.
How should I browse it here?Start with the facts, jump to linked cities, then check events and topics.
Upcoming events
Use Nouakchott as the first planning anchor for Mauritania, then compare the city, food and worth-seeing notes on this page.
Food & drink
Street food
CoffeeKnown for
ChinguettiBanc d'ArguinRichat StructureNouakchottStreet foodCoffee
Music & Culture