| Location | Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Senegal and Western Sahara |
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| Geographic coordinates | 20 00 N, 12 00 W |
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| Zone | Africa |
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| Area | total: 1,030,700 sq km
land: 1,030,400 sq km
water: 300 sq km |
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| Land boundaries | 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 | 754 km |
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| Maritime claims | territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin |
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| Climate | desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty |
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| Terrain | mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central hills |
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| Elevation extremes | lowest point: Sebkhet Te-n-Dghamcha -5 m
highest point: Kediet Ijill 915 m |
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| Natural resources | iron ore, gypsum, copper, phosphate, diamonds, gold, oil, fish |
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| Irrigated land | 754 km |
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| Natural hazards | hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows primarily in March and April; periodic droughts |
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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 |
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Environment -
international agreements | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
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| 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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