Location:
Northern
Africa, bordering the North
Atlantic Ocean, between
Senegal and
Western Sahara
Geographic coordinates:
20 00 N, 12 00 W
Map references:
Africa
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
Coastline:
754 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
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 drought?s
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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