Map of Mauritania - Mauritania Map, Mauritania Information

Description

Independent from France in 1960, Mauritania annexed the southern third of the former Spanish Sahara (now Western Sahara) in 1976, but relinquished it after three years of raids by the Polisario guerrilla front seeking independence for the territory.

Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA seized power in a coup in 1984. Opposition parties were legalized and a new constitution approved in 1991. Two multiparty presidential elections since then were widely seen as flawed, but October 2001 legislative and municipal elections were generally free and open. A bloodless coup in August 2005 deposed President TAYA and ushered in a military council headed by Col. Ely Ould Mohamed VALL, which declared it would remain in power for up to two years while it created conditions for genuine democratic institutions and organized elections.

Accordingly, parliamentary elections were held in December of 2006 and senatorial and presidential elections will follow (January and March 2007 respectively). The newly-elected legislature is expected to assume power following the inauguration of the new president. For now, however, Mauritania remains an autocratic state, and the country continues to experience ethnic tensions among its black population and different Moor (Arab-Berber) communities.

Facts and Figures

Official Name Islamic Republic of Mauritania

Capital City Nouakchott

Languages Arabic (official), and local dialects

Official Currency Ouguiya

Religions Muslim

Population 3,177,388

Land Area 1,025,520 sq km (395,593 sq miles)

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Maps

Large (color) map here

African Continent (printable) here

African Continent by WorldAtlas, here

African Outline Map here

Mauritania Outline Map here

Mauritania Map, CIA version here

Mauritania Maps, University of Texas here

Recommended Links

Mauritania (Complete) info on the (GDP) economy, imports and exports, natural resources, government, population, military, transportation and more here

PASSPORTS - TRAVEL VISAS

NOTE: Before making your travel plans to any worldwide destination, we strongly recommend you authenticate important details regarding all passport and visa requirements. The experienced people at Travel Visa Pro can answer all of your questions!

Climate Mauritania is mostly desert so it is very hot year round. November through February has hot temperatures during the day, but gets cooler at night. The hottest time of year is June through October when temperatures will average 104 F or 40C. March through May, the high winds blow the desert sand. There really is no rainy season in Mauritania.