Mauritania's Geography | Mauritania Geography

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

Climate: Desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty

Terrain: Mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central hills

Elevation extremes: Lowest point: Sebkhet Te-n-Dghamcha -5 m highest point: Kediet Ijill 915 m

Natural resources: Iron ore, gypsum, copper, phosphate, diamonds, gold, oil, fish

Land use: Arable land: 0.48% permanent crops: 0.01% other: 99.51% (2001)

Irrigated land: 490 sq km (1998 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; locust infestation

Environment - international agreements: Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, 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

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