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Location:
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Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Senegal and Western Sahara
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Geographic coordinates:
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20 00 N, 12 00 W
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Map references:
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Africa
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Area:
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total: 1,030,700 sq km
land: 1,030,400 sq km
water: 300 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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slightly larger than three times the size of New Mexico
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Land boundaries:
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total: 5,074 km
border countries: Algeria 463 km, Mali 2,237 km, Senegal 813 km, Western Sahara 1,561 km
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Coastline:
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754 km
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Maritime claims:
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contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
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Climate:
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desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty
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Terrain:
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mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central hills
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Sebkha de Ndrhamcha -3 m
highest point: Kediet Ijill 910 m
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Natural resources:
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iron ore, gypsum, copper, phosphate, diamonds, gold, oil, fish
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Land use:
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arable land: 0.48%
permanent crops: 0.01%
other: 99.51% (1998 est.)
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Irrigated land:
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490 sq km (1998 est.)
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Natural hazards:
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hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows primarily in March and April; periodic droughts
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Environment - current issues:
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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
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Environment - international agreements:
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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
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Geography - note:
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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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