TOTAL AREA: 1,030,700 sq km (397,473 sq mi); LAND AREA: 1,030,400 sq km (397,358 sq mi)
COMPARATIVE AREA: slightly larger than three times the size of New Mexico
LAND BOUNDARIES: 5,074 km (3,152 mi) total; Algeria 463 km (287 mi), Mali 2,237 km (1390 mi), Senegal 813 km (507 mi), Western Sahara 1,561 km (970 mi)
COASTLINE: 754 km (469 mi)
MARITIME CLAIMS:
CONTINENTAL SHELF: edge of continental margin or 200 nm
EXTENDED ECONOMIC ZONE: 200 nm
TERRITORIAL SEA: 70 nm
DISPUTES: armed conflict in Western Sahara
CLIMATE: desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty
TERRAIN: mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central hills
NATURAL RESOURCES: iron ore, gypsum, fish, copper, phosphate
LAND USE: 1% arable land; NEGL% permanent crops; 38% meadows and pastures; 5% forest and woodland; 56% other; includes NEGL% irrigated
ENVIRONMENT: hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows primarily in March and April; desertification; only perennial river is the Senegal
ETHNIC DIVISIONS: 40% mixed Maur/black, 30% Maur, 30% black
RELIGION: nearly 100% Muslim
LANGUAGE: Hasaniya Arabic (national); French (official); Toucouleur, Fula, Sarakole, Wolof
LITERACY: 17%
LABOR FORCE: 465,000 (1981 est.); 45,000 wage earners (1980); 47% agriculture, 29% services, 14% industry and commerce, 10% government; 53% of population of working age (1985)
ORGANIZED LABOR: 30,000 members claimed by single union, Mauritanian Workers' Union
.GOVERNMENT OF MAURITANIA
LONG-FORM NAME: Islamic Republic of Mauritania
TYPE: republic; military first seized power in bloodless coup 10 July 1978; a palace coup that took place on 24 December 1984 brought President Taya to power
CAPITAL: Nouakchott
ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS: 12 regions (regions, singular--region); Adrar, Brakna, Dakhlet Nouadhibou, El Acaba, Gorgol, Guidimaka, Hodh Ech Chargui, Hodh El Gharbi, Inchiri, Tagant, Tiris Zemmour, Trarza; note--there may be a new capital district of Nouakchott
INDEPENDENCE: 28 November 1960 (from France)
CONSTITUTION: 20 May 1961, abrogated after coup of 10 July 1978; provisional constitution published 17 December 1980 but abandoned in 1981; new constitutional charter published 27 February 1985
LEGAL SYSTEM: based on Islamic law
NATIONAL HOLIDAY: Independence Day, 28 November (1960)
BRANCHES: executive--Military Committee for National Salvation rules by decree; National Assembly suspended pending restoration of civilian rule; judiciary functions normally
CHIEFS OF STATE AND HEAD OF GOVERNMENT: President Col. Maaouiya Ould SidAhmed TAYA (since 12 December 1984)
SUFFRAGE: universal for adults
ELECTIONS: municipal election conducted December 1986; last presidential election August 1976
POLITICAL PARTIES AND LEADERS: suspended
DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATION: Ambassador Abdellah OULD DADDAH; Chancery at 2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 232-5700
U.S. FOREIGN SERVICE POST: Ambassador William H. TWADDELL; Embassy at address NA, Nouakchott (mailing address is B. P. 222, Nouakchott); telephone
FLAG: green with a yellow five-pointed star above a yellow, horizontal crescent; the closed side of the crescent is down; the crescent, star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam
.ECONOMY OF MAURITANIA
OVERVIEW: A majority of the population still depend on agriculture and livestock for a livelihood, even though most of the nomads and many subsistence farmers were forced into the cities by recurrent drought in 1983. Mauritania has extensive deposits of iron ore that account for almost 50% of total exports. The decline in world demand for this ore, however, has led to cutbacks in production in recent years. The nation's coastal waters are among the richest fishing areas in the world, though overexploitation by foreigners threatens this key source of revenue. The country's first deepwater port opened near Nouakchott in 1986.
GDP: $843 million, per capita $440; real growth rate 2.7% (1988)
BUDGET: revenues $265 million; expenditures $273 million, including capital expenditures of $73 million (1986)
EXPORTS: $428 million (f.o.b., 1986); commodities-- iron ore, processed fish, small amounts of gum arabic and gypsum, unrecorded but numerically significant cattle exports to Senegal; partners-- EC 57%, Japan 39%, Ivory Coast 2%
IMPORTS: $329 million (c.i.f., 1986); commodities-- foodstuffs, consumer goods, petroleum products, capital goods; partners-- EC 79%, Africa 5%, US 4%, Japan 2%
EXTERNAL DEBT: $2.2 billion (December 1988)
INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION: growth rate 5%, excluding construction and public works (1986 est.)
ELECTRICITY: 189,000 kW capacity; 136 million kWh produced, 70 kWh per capita (1988)
INDUSTRIES: fishing, fish processing, mining of iron ore and gypsum
RAILROADS: 690 km (428 mi) 1.435-meter standard gauge, single track, owned and operated by government mining company
HIGHWAYS: 8,150 km (5,061 mi) total; 1,350 km paved; 1,660 km gravel, crushed stone, or otherwise improved; 5,140 km unimproved
INLAND WATERWAYS: mostly ferry traffic
PORTS: Nouadhibou, Nouakchott
CIVIL AIR: 2 major transport aircraft
AIRPORTS: 30 total, 29 usable; 9 with permanent-surface runways; 4 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 16 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
TELECOMMUNICATIONS: poor system of cable and open-wire lines, minor radio relay links, and radio communications stations; 5,200 telephones; stations--2 AM, no FM, 1 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 ARABSAT satellite ground stations, with a third planned
.DEFENSE FORCES OF MAURITANIA
BRANCHES: Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary Gendarmerie, paramilitary National Guard, paramilitary National Police, paramilitary Presidential Guard, paramilitary Nomad Security Guards
MILITARY MANPOWER: males 15-49, 434,066; 210,871 fit for military service; conscription law not implemented
MILITARY BUDGET: $43.3 million, 25% of central government budget (1985)
.TRAVEL IN MAURITANIA
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS: Passport and visa required. Obtain visa before arrival. Visa valid 3 months, $10, 4 photos and 2 original applications required. Cash or money order only. Proof of onward/return transportation, proof of sufficient funds (bank statement) or letter from company or organization sponsoring trip also required. Send prepaid registered envelope for return of passport. Vaccination certificates required for yellow fever and cholera.
HEALTH: Malaria suppressants are recommended. Health conditions in Nouakchott are fair; there have been cases of cholera, hepatitis, meningitis, and other diseases. Facilities in the rest of the country are limited. Health requirements change; check latest information.
WEATHER AND CLOTHING: Conservative summer clothing is worn year round. Bring a jacket or sweater for winter evenings.
TELEPHONE: Calls to Mauritania should be made through the international operator. Outgoing radiotelephone service is available.
TIME: 5 hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Standard Time, and the same as Greenwich Mean Time.
ELECTRIC CURRENT: 220V
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS: Atar is the ancient capital of the Almoravide Kingdom. Chjinguetti is the seventh holy city of Islam, with 13-century houses and mosques. Travel to the interior must be planned well in advance.
IMPORTANT!! All requirements/recommendations are subject to change. Be sure to check latest information.
