| Location: |
Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Senegal and Western Sahara
|
| Geographic coordinates: |
20 00 N, 12 00 W
|
| Area: |
total:
1,030,700 sq km
land:
1,030,400 sq km
water:
300 sq km
|
| Area - comparative: |
slightly larger than three times the size of New Mexico
|
| Land boundaries: |
total:
5,074 km
border countries:
Algeria 463 km, Mali 2,237 km, Senegal 813 km, Western Sahara 1,561 km
|
| Maritime claims: |
contiguous zone:
24 NM
continental shelf:
200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone:
200 NM
territorial sea:
12 NM
|
| Climate: |
desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty
|
| Terrain: |
mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central hills
|
| Elevation extremes: |
lowest point:
Sebkha de Ndrhamcha -3 m
highest point:
Kediet Ijill 910 m
|
| Natural resources: |
iron ore, gypsum, fish, copper, phosphate, diamonds, gold
|
| Land use: |
arable land:
0%
permanent crops:
0%
permanent pastures:
38%
forests and woodland:
4%
other:
58% (1993 est.)
|
| Irrigated land: |
490 sq km (1993 est.)
|
| Natural hazards: |
hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows primarily in March and April; periodic droughts
|
| Environment - current issues: |
overgrazing, deforestation, and soil erosion aggravated by drought are contributing to desertification; very limited natural fresh water resources away from the Senegal which is the only perennial river
|
| Environment - international agreements: |
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements
|
| Geography - note: |
most of the population concentrated in the cities of Nouakchott and Nouadhibou and along the Senegal River in the southern part of the country
|
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