Mauritania ( Al Jumhuriyah al Islamiyah al Muritaniyah) is a country in Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Senegal and Western Sahara. Mauritania geographic coordinates 20 00 N, 12 00 W; area 300 sq km; area comparative slightly larger than three times the size of New Mexico; land boundaries Algeria 463 km, Mali 2,237 km, Senegal 813 km, Western Sahara 1,561 km; coastline 754 km; maritime claims 20; climate desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty; terrain mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central hills; elevation extremes Kediet Ijill 915 m; natural resources iron ore, gypsum, copper, phosphate, diamonds, gold, oil, fish; land use 99.51% (2001); irrigated land 490 sq km (1998 est.); natural hazards hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows primarily in March and April; periodic droughts; environment current issues 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; locust infestation; environment international agreements none of the selected agreements; geography note most of the population concentrated in the cities of Nouakchott and Nouadhibou and along the Senegal River in the southern part of the country;

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Independent from France in 1960, Mauritania annexed the southern third of the former Spanish Sahara (now Western Sahara) in 1976, but relinquished it after three years of raids by the Polisario guerrilla front seeking independence for the territory. Opposition parties were legalized and a new constitution approved in 1991. Two multiparty presidential elections since then were widely seen as flawed, but October 2001 legislative and municipal elections were generally free and open. Mauritania remains, in reality, a one-party state. The country continues to experience ethnic tensions between its black population and the Maur (Arab-Berber) populace. government type republic; capital Nouakchott; administrative divisions 12 regions (regions, singular - region) and 1 capital district*; Adrar, Assaba, Brakna, Dakhlet Nouadhibou, Gorgol, Guidimaka, Hodh Ech Chargui, Hodh El Gharbi, Inchiri, Nouakchott*, Tagant, Tiris Zemmour, Trarza; independence 28 November 1960 (from France); national holiday Independence Day, 28 November (1960); constitution 12 July 1991; legal system a combination of Shari'a (Islamic law) and French civil law; suffrage 18 years of age; universal;

people

Mauritania population 3,086,859 (July 2005 est.); age structure 2.2% (male 27,560/female 40,603) (2005 est.); median age 17.24 years (2005 est.); population growth rate 2.9% (2005 est.); birth rate 41.43 births/1,000 population (2005 est.); death rate 12.44 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.); net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.); sex ratio 0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.); infant mortality rate 73.81 deaths/1,000 live births; life expectancy at birth 55 years (2005 est.); total fertility rate 5.94 children born/woman (2005 est.); hiv adult rate 0.6% (2003 est.); hiv people with aids 9,500 (2003 est.); hiv deaths less than 500 (2003 est.); major infectious diseases respirat; nationality Mauritanian; ethnic groups mixed Maur/black 40%, Moor 30%, black 30%; religions Muslim 100%; languages Arabic (official), Pulaar, Soninke, French, Hassaniya, Wolof; literacy 31.9% (2003 est.);

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Cities