GeographyMauritania

Location: Mauritania isNorthern Africa country, borderingNorth Atlantic Ocean, between SenegalWestern Sahara.

Geographic coordinates: 20 00 N, 12 00 W

Map references: Africa

Area:
total: 1,030,700 kmē
land: 1,030,400 kmē
water: 300 kmē

Area - comparative: slightly larger than three timessizeNew 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:
contiguous zone: 24 [nautical mile]]s
continental shelf: 200 nautical miles or toedge ofcontinental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles
territorial sea: 12 nautical miles

Climate: desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty

Terrain: mostly barren, flat plains ofSahara; some central hills

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Sebkha de Ndrhamcha -3 m
highest point: Kediet Ijill 910 m

Natural resources: iron ore, gypsum, fish, copper, phosphate

Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 38%
forestswoodland: 4%
other: 58% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 490 kmē (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows primarilyMarchApril; periodic droughts

Environment - current issues: overgrazing, deforestation,soil erosion aggravated by droughtcontributingdesertification; very limited natural fresh water resources away fromSenegal which isonly perennial river

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law ofSea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none ofselected agreements

Geography - note: most ofpopulation concentrated incitiesNouakchottNouadhiboualongSenegal River insouthern part ofcountry

See also : Mauritania