Mauritania — Capital, Flag and Country Facts

Explore Mauritania: capital Nouakchott, population, flag, geography, languages, history and culture.

Mauritania is in Africa. Its capital is Nouakchott.

Climate

Desert; constantly hot, dry, and dusty with rare rainfall

Mostly flat barren Saharan desert plains, some central hills, and a narrow fertile Senegal River valley in the south

Mauritania's ancient library cities hold thousands of medieval manuscripts.

Mauritania was the last country in the world to officially abolish slavery in 1981.

The Richat Structure (Eye of the Sahara) in Mauritania is visible from space and measures 40 km across.

300: Berber traders establish trans-Saharan trade routes

1076: Almoravid Empire launches from Mauritania

1904: France colonizes Mauritania

1960: Independence from France

1981: Mauritania officially abolishes slavery (last country to do so)

2019: First peaceful democratic transfer of power