Islamic Republic of Mauritania National
name: République Islamique de Mauritanie Government: Republic
under military government. The legal system is based on Islam. Geography: Mauritania
is situated in northwest Africa with about 350 mi (592 km) of coastline
on the Atlantic Ocean. It is bordered by Morocco on the north, Algeria and
Mali on the east, and Senegal on the south. The country is mostly desert,
with the exception of the fertile Senegal River valley in the south and
grazing land in the north Area:
397,953 sq mi (1,030,700 sq km) Population
(2003 est.): 2,912,584 (growth rate: 2.9%); birth rate: 42.2/1000; infant
mortality rate: 73.8/1000; density per sq mi: 7 Capital
and largest city (2003 est.): Nouakchott,
661,400 Monetary unit:
Ouguiya Languages:
Arabic and Wolof (official); French Ethnicity/race:
mixed Maur/black 40%, Maur 30%, black 30% Religion:
Islam Agriculture:
dates, millet, sorghum, rice, corn, dates; cattle, sheep. Industries:
fish processing, mining of iron ore and gypsum. Natural resources:
iron ore, gypsum, copper, phosphate, diamonds, gold, oil; fish.
