Mauritania is a sovereign state in Northwest Africa, its official name is the Islamic Republic of Mauritania. The name of the nation is derived from Mauretania, a historic Berber monarchy in the Maghreb region of North Africa.
The majority of its inhabitants reside in the country’s temperate south, with around one-third of them concentrated in Nouakchott, the nation’s largest city, which is situated on the Atlantic coast.
With one of the lowest population densities in the world, Mauritania is virtually evenly split between Moors of Arab-Berber heritage and Black Africans, a striking cultural amalgam that contributes to the country’s allure. Western Sahara, Algeria, Mali, and Senegal are its external borders.
The Sahara desert covers two-thirds of Mauritania, making it a desert country. Besides a few hills in the country’s center, the topography is primarily flat, desolate desert. The Mauritanian desert has a massive eye that can be seen from space. It is referred to as “the Richat Structure,” and it has a diameter of around 40 km and a “bulls-eye” appearance. Although the precise cause of its formation is still unknown, it is thought that the structure was created as a result of ongoing rock degradation.
Mineral resources are abundant in Mauritania, particularly ore and iron. In actuality, Mount Ijill, the highest mountain, is almost entirely composed of iron ore. Offshore oil that was discovered in Mauritania in 2001 is currently one of the nation’s principal exports.
Depending on the purpose of their visit, foreign nationals traveling to Mauritania can choose from a variety of different visas.