CAPITAL NOUAKCHOTT - POPULATION 3.3 MILLION - AREA 1,030,700 SQ KM - OFFICIAL LANGUAGE ARABIC
A small population and a whole lot of space continue to make Mauritania a popular destination for thousands of visitors each year, who come seeking the solitude of the desert. Like most West African countries, much of its population is on the poverty line and the country has numerous problems. In December 2007, four French tourists were killed during a robbery in the Aleg region; the French authorities subsequently cancelled the 2008 Paris-Dakar rally due to security concerns. If therefore pays to monitor the news carefully, and take local advice while on the road. If conditions permit, don't miss a trip out to the Unesco World Heritage Site at Qualata, an ancient and evocative semi-ghost town that will one day become a firm favorite on any self-respecting traveler’s itinerary.
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