MAURITANIA
Vacations and Sightseeing
Vacations and Sightseeing
| Basic information | |
| Official language | Arabic |
| Capital | Nouakchott |
| Area | 1.025.520 km² |
| Population | 4,858,417 (2021) |
| Currency | ouguiya (MRO) |
| Web | .mr |
| Code. | MRT |
| Tel. | +222 |
Vacations and Sightseeing
Nouakchott, the capital of Mauritania, does not have too many tourist attractions, but its fish market, Port de Peche, is a destination in itself, as are the many fish restaurants nearby. Visit the market in the late afternoon, when the fishing boats return and the fishermen mend their hand-knotted nets. They sort, strip, fillet the day's catch. The sale is generally entrusted to young boys. The Musee National is worth a visit for anyone with an interest in Moorish culture. Among other things, you will find prehistoric archaeological treasures and ethnographic exhibitions. The Grand Mosque is another special building in Nouackchott, its narrow minarets marking the exact centre of the city.
The Adrar region in the north of Mauritania is a desert dotted with oases and ancient cities. The most beautiful settlements of the Adrar are Ouadane, Chinguetti, Tichitt and Oualata, which are collectively listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. These towns flourished as centres of trade and Islamic culture from the 11th to 16th centuries, when caravans crossed the Sahara. The distinctive stone architecture of the Saharan towns consists of warehouses, former inns and houses with patios. The towns are densely built along narrow, winding streets around a central mosque. Ouadane, Chinguetti, Tichitt and Oualata are the only places in Mauritania that were continuously populated. Tichitt was once one of the largest cities in Western Sahara and Chinguetti is considered the seventh holy city of Islam.
Sources
Elmar Landeninformatie
CIA - World Factbook
BBC - Country Profiles
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