Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between
Senegal and Western Sahara

20 00 N, 12 00 W

Africa

total: 1,030,700 sq km
land: 1,030,400 sq km
water: 300 sq km

slightly larger than three times the size of New
Mexico

total: 5,074 km
border countries: Algeria 463 km, Mali 2,237 km, Senegal 813 km,
Western Sahara 1,561 km

754 km

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

desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty

mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central hills

lowest point: Sebkha de Ndrhamcha -3 m
highest point: Kediet Ijill 910 m

iron ore, gypsum, fish, copper, phosphate

arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 38%
forests and woodland: 4%
other: 58% (1993 est.)

490 sq km (1993 est.)

hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows
primarily in March and April; periodic droughts

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

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

most of the population concentrated in the cities of
Nouakchott and Nouadhibou and along the Senegal River in the southern
part of the country