Facts about Mauritania
- Capital: Nouakchott
- Government: Islamic republic
- Currency: Mauritanian ouguiya
- President: Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz
- Official language: Arabic. National languages-Arabic, Poular, Soninke, Wolof.
- Area: 397,956 mi2 (1,030,700 km2). Greatest distances-north-south, 800 mi (1,287 km); east-west, 780 mi (1,255 km). Coastline-414 mi (666 km).
- Population: 2012 estimate 3,359,185
- Chief products: Agriculture-corn, dates, millet, livestock (cattle, goats, sheep), rice, sorghum.Manufacturing-fish processing, petroleum refining. Mining-iron ore, gypsum, gold.
- Flag: Mauritania's flag has a yellow star over a yellow crescent on a green background. The green color and the star and crescent stand for Mauritania's ties to Islam and the rest of northern Africa. The yellow stands for the country's ties to nations south of the Sahara.
- Climate: Hot and dry, cool at night, with light rainfall in the south and almost no rainfall in the desert.
Interesting facts about Mauritania
Fact 1:
If you look at Mauritania from space, you can see a clear bulls eye-like image called the Eye of Africa. Until now nobody knows yet for sure what created this gigantic ground sculpture
Fact 2:
The Portuguese were the first Europeans to explore Mauritania in the 15th century.
Fact 3:
Nouakchott means "the camels of the beach".
Fact 4:
Nouakchott the capital of Mauritania, is one of newest capitals in the world.
If you look at Mauritania from space, you can see a clear bulls eye-like image called the Eye of Africa. Until now nobody knows yet for sure what created this gigantic ground sculpture
Fact 2:
The Portuguese were the first Europeans to explore Mauritania in the 15th century.
Fact 3:
Nouakchott means "the camels of the beach".
Fact 4:
Nouakchott the capital of Mauritania, is one of newest capitals in the world.
Fact 5:
40% of Mauritania's exports is iron ore.
Fact 6:
Aside from Madagascar, Mauritania is the only other country that does not use a decimal currency.
Fact 7:
In Mauritania there is one of the longest trains in the world. It measures almost three kilometers long.
Fact 8:
Mauritania passed a law to abolish slavery only in 1981. It is one of the last countries that abolished slavery in the world.
Fact 9:
Rock paintings that is founded in Mauritania indicated that the region could have been inhabited by animals like giraffes and other such grazing animals.
Fact 10:
Nearly 70% of the Mauritania is a desert which is growing as a result of frequent droughts.
Fact 11:
Most of Mauritania's population is focused in Nouadhibou and Nouakchott cities.
40% of Mauritania's exports is iron ore.
Fact 6:
Aside from Madagascar, Mauritania is the only other country that does not use a decimal currency.
Fact 7:
In Mauritania there is one of the longest trains in the world. It measures almost three kilometers long.
Fact 8:
Mauritania passed a law to abolish slavery only in 1981. It is one of the last countries that abolished slavery in the world.
Fact 9:
Rock paintings that is founded in Mauritania indicated that the region could have been inhabited by animals like giraffes and other such grazing animals.
Fact 10:
Nearly 70% of the Mauritania is a desert which is growing as a result of frequent droughts.
Fact 11:
Most of Mauritania's population is focused in Nouadhibou and Nouakchott cities.