Salam! Welcome to the land where the Sahara meets the Atlantic—Mauritania!
A vast country in Northwest Africa that serves as a bridge between the Arab Maghreb and Sub-Saharan Africa. There are around 5 million people living here, and the capital is Nouakchott, which was a small fishing village until the late 1950s and is now a bustling coastal metropolis. The official language is Arabic, but Hassaniya (a unique Arabic dialect), Pulaar, Soninke, and Wolof are widely spoken.
Mauritania covers about 1,030,000 square kilometers (397,685 square miles). It’s roughly the same size as the state of Texas and New Mexico combined, or about the same size as Egypt. In European terms, it is approximately the size of France and Spain combined. Roughly 90% of the territory is within the Sahara Desert, dominated by endless sand dunes and rocky plateaus.
The most popular sport is Football, with the national team, known as “Les Mourabitounes,” seeing a massive surge in popularity recently. Their national animal is the Oryx, a desert-dwelling antelope with long, straight horns that can survive for long periods without water.
The flag consists of a green field with a yellow crescent and star in the center and two red horizontal stripes at the top and bottom, where the green and yellow are traditional Pan-African colors representing Islam and the Sahara, and the red stripes were added in 2017 to symbolize the blood shed for independence.
The food is a blend of nomadic traditions and coastal flavors. You must try Thieboudienne (Cheb-jin), a hearty fish and rice dish that is a staple of West African coastal life. Another favorite is Méchoui, whole roasted lamb prepared over an open fire. In the desert, Couscous is frequently served with camel meat or goat. Hospitality is legendary here, and you will likely be served Mauritanian Tea—a ritual involving three glasses of sweet, frothy mint tea, with each glass representing life, love, and death.
Mauritania is home to the Eye of the Sahara (the Richat Structure), a massive circular geological feature that is so large it is visible from space and was once used as a landmark by early astronauts. The country is also home to the Iron Ore Train, one of the longest and heaviest trains in the world; it stretches over 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles) and travels across the desert from the mines of Zouérat to the port of Nouadhibou. For history lovers, the ancient stone cities of Chinguetti and Ouadane are UNESCO World Heritage sites that were once vital stops for medieval trade caravans and are home to thousands of ancient manuscripts.
From the Banc d’Arguin National Park, where millions of migratory birds gather, to the deep, silent dunes of the Adrar, Mauritania is a land of ancient wisdom and desert beauty. Shukran! That means “Thank you!”