1. Last country to abolish slavery
Did you know that Mauritania was the last country to legally abolish slavery? In 1981, a presidential decree called for the ending of the practice, however there were no criminal penalties put into place. In 2007, official legislation was passed that crimalized the ownership of slaves. Despite this, the Global Slavery Index estimated as recently as 2021 that there were still nearly 150,000 people trapped in modern slavery in Mauritania. Find out more about slavery in Mauritania here .
2. Bride fattening
Bigger is better when it comes to choosing a bride in Mauritania! So much so, that families used to send their daughters away to camps where they could concentrate solely on packing on pounds. Funnels would be used to dump a high-fat slurry of camel’s milk, millet, and two cups of butter, down a woman’s throat. Yum. I can think of more fun ways to pack on some extra weight!
3. Eye of the Sahara
Mauritania is home to a fascinating geological phenomenon, the Richat Structure, that has been dubbed “the eye of the Sahara”. The Richat Structure is located in the northwest of the country, and is so massive it can be seen from space. Due to the round concentric circles being quite similar to Plato’s description of a famous mythical city, many people theorize that this is the location of Atlantis. But scientists agree that Atlantis is actually a beach resort in the Bahamas, and that this geological formation was at one point an uplifted dome which has been eroded over millions of years, creating the fascinating ringed pattern we see today.
4. Iron ore train: the 2 nd longest and heaviest train in the world
If you’re looking to travel to Mauritania, then you’ve likely heard of the iron ore train. In recent years, hitching a ride on this massive industrial train and sitting on top of the ore as you watch the Sahara pass by through your goggles has become a popular item on many a traveler’s bucket list. Many people call this “the longest heaviest train in the world,” but did you know that at 3km (1.9miles), this massive train is actually the 2 nd longest and heaviest? Number one, also an iron ore mining train, is the BHP Iron Ore train in Western Australia.
5. 28 th largest country in the world
By land mass, Mauritania is one of the largest countries in the world at 1,030,700 square kilometers (397,955 square miles). However, 90% of this country is taken up by the Sahara Desert, meaning the land has little value agriculturally. This has resulted in centuries of nomadic traditions in the country as people moved their livestock from oasis to oasis.
6. Sparsely populated
Even though Mauritania is one of the largest countries in the world by land mass, it does not have a large population. There are only 5 people per square kilometer of land. Most people live in or around the capital, Nouakchott, or near the country’s other port city, Nouadhibou, or in the greener lands of the south, near the border with Senegal.
7. Ancient cities
Mauritania is home to many ancient cities that, during the 11 th and 12 th centuries would have been bustling and important centers of trade, culture, and education. The most notable of these being Ouadane, Chinguetti, Oualata, and Tichitt. These would have been important stopping points both for traders and religious pilgrims. Chinguetti became an important town for scholars as it collected important historical and religious texts in the region. At its peak, between the 13 th and 17 th centuries, the town had 30 libraries!
8. Currency
Mauritania’s currency, the Ouguiya, is one of two currencies in the world that has a theoretical subdivision into 5. One Ouguiya is equal to 5 Khoums. Most other currencies in the world are divisible into 10 or 100 smaller units (eg. 100 cents into 1 US dollar; or 1 Chinese yuan is divided into 10 jiao). However, at the currency’s current value ($1 USD to 45 Ouguiya), khoums are too small to really be used today. The only other country with a currency with a subdivision of 5 is Madagascar.
Want to Check Out Mauritania for Yourself?
Mauritania is a beautiful and fascinating country worth exploring! Its desert conditions can make it tricky to get around on your own, so one of the easiest ways to visit a wide array of what this country has to offer is to join a group tour with experienced guides and drivers. You can check out our Mauritania group tours here !
