Country Details

Mauritania is located on the Atlantic Ocean in North-west Africa. It is bordered by Algeria in the North-east, Mali in the East and Senegal in the South. Mauritania shares its long northern border with the former Spanish Sahara. The country has three distinct geographic regions. The Riverine zone with its well-watered alluvial soil stretching along the Senegal River valley in the South, the Sahelian zone which is a broader East to West band that extends from the Riverine zone to the North of Nouakchott, and the Saharan zone that comprises the Northern two-thirds of Mauritania. There is a limited area of arable land where only meadows and pastures are observed in certain regions. Mauritania’s climate is hot and arid. Sandstorms can occur throughout the year although they are less frequent during summer and fall.