Mauritania

Mauritania

a republic in NW Africa, on the Atlantic: established as a French protectorate in 1903 and a colony in 1920; gained independence in 1960; lies in the Sahara; contains rich resources of iron ore. Official language: Arabic; Fulani, Soninke, Wolof, and French are also spoken. Official religion: Muslim. Currency: ouguiya. Capital: Nouakchott. Pop.: 2 980 000 (2004 est.). Area: 1 030 700 sq. km (398 000 sq. miles)

Collins Discovery Encyclopedia, 1st edition © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

Mauritania

Official name: Islamic Republic of Mauritania

Capital city: Nouakchott

Internet country code: .mr

Flag description: Green with a yellow five-pointed star above a yellow horizontal crescent; the closed side of the crescent is down; the crescent, star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam

National anthem: lyrics taken from poem by Baba Ould Cheikh

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

Total area: 419,212 sq. mi. (1,030,070 sq. km.)

Climate: Desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty

Nationality: noun: Mauritanian(s); adjective: Mauritanian

Population: 3,270,065 (July 2007 CIA est.)

Ethnic groups: Arab-Berber (White Moor), Arab-Berber-Negroid (Black Moor), Haalpulaar, Soninke, Wolof (Black African Mauritanians)

Languages spoken: Arabic (official), Hassaniya (Arabic dialect), French, Pulaar, Wolof, and Soninke

Religions: Muslim 100%

Legal Holidays:

Independence Day	Nov 28
Journee de l'OUA	May 25
Labor Day	May 1
New Year's Day	Jan 1

Holidays, Festivals, and Celebrations of the World Dictionary, Fourth Edition. © 2010 by Omnigraphics, Inc.