Mauritania Neighbouring Countries and North African Map
Geography and Borders
Parked in the northwestern part of Africa, Mauritania rubs shoulders with a handful of neighboring nations. To really get what makes this country tick, you’ve got to know who it’s rubbing shoulders with.
Mauritania’s Neighboring Countries
It’s got four neighbors: Algeria, Mali, Western Sahara, and Senegal. Each of these countries adds a little something to how Mauritania deals with its neighbors and worldwide pals.
- Western Sahara: Up to the northwest.
- Algeria: Hanging out to the northeast.
- Mali: Chilling to the east and southeast.
- Senegal: Down to the southwest.
These borders aren’t just lines on a map; they’re about trade deals, keeping the peace, and having good old chats between countries. See mali neighbouring countries and morocco neighbouring countries for some juicy insights on these connections.
Land Boundaries of Mauritania
Mauritania stretches its legs over about 3,153 miles of borders, according to World Atlas. Here’s the lowdown on who gets how much space:
| Country | Length of Boundary (miles) |
|---|---|
| Western Sahara | 1,057 |
| Algeria | 289 |
| Mali | 1,390 |
| Senegal | 416 |
These borders are like lifelines for trade, security talks, and sharing stories across the fence. Check it out:
- Western Sahara: The longest stretch, with rocky politics.
- Algeria: It’s all about business and resources here.
- Mali: Security and business shake hands along this line.
- Senegal: A mix of cultures and stories along this border.
Knowing these borders lets you see the big picture of Mauritania’s place in the neighborhood. Being neighborly is key to understanding how Mauritania ticks. For a better look at the friendly neighbors’ stories, dive into luxembourg neighbouring countries and namibia neighbouring countries.
Coastal Features
Mauritania’s coastline is as essential as a family barbecue—endless, vital, and loaded with personality. It shapes the country’s environment, maritime habits, and the whole neighborhood’s scene.
Atlantic Ocean Influence
Now take Mauritania’s beachside view along the Atlantic, which stretches a good 754 kilometers (that’s about as far as you’d want to walk in a day, right?). This beast of a coastline nudges the country’s climate and lifestyle in ways you wouldn’t believe.
- Climate: Up north, you’ve got desert vibes, while down south, it’s semi-arid central. The Atlantic’s gusty hugs and the Humboldt Current help cool the sand off a little and bring some very welcome moisture into the air.
- Fisheries: The ocean’s pantry provides a feast for the fishing trade. Fishing keeps folks employed and bellies filled with fresh catch—pretty crucial stuff if you ask anyone local.
- Trade and Transportation: The buzzing port of Nouadhibou is the lifeline connecting Mauritania with its Atlantic cousins. A lot of wheeling and dealing happens here, making Mauritania a key player in regional trade.
| Feature | Impact on Mauritania |
|---|---|
| Coastal Length | 754 km |
| Climate Influence | Desert and semi-arid |
| Economic Activities | Fisheries, trade |
Maritime Claims of Mauritania
Let’s talk about Mauritania’s rules-of-the-sea game. They’ve got their sights set on their slice of the ocean pie and have drawn up categorical lines around what’s theirs.
- Territorial Sea: Stretching a cool 12 nautical miles from the coast. Mauritania owns this like running a backyard—you control everything.
- Contiguous Zone: Extends up to 24 nautical miles from the baseline. Mauritania calls the shots on customs, immigration, and public health within this watery belt.
- Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ): Goes all the way to 200 nautical miles out. Imagine having rights to dig and dive for everything—fish, oil, treasure. It’s all part of the Mauritania deal out there.
- Continental Shelf: This stretches under the waves to the end of the shelf, or at least 200 nautical miles. Mauritania gets to do some legal underwater treasure hunting here, tapping mineral and other booty from the ocean floor.
| Maritime Zone | Extent | Rights and Jurisdiction |
|---|---|---|
| Territorial Sea | Up to 12 nautical miles | Full sovereignty |
| Contiguous Zone | Up to 24 nautical miles | Control over customs, immigration, health checks |
| Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) | Up to 200 nautical miles | Rights to exploit and manage natural resources |
| Continental Shelf | Till the edge or 200 nautical miles | Rights to seabed resources |
So, Mauritania’s slice of the Atlantic does more than just enhance its map look—it provides crucial resources to fuel their economic engine. Those marine boundaries? They’re set to protect what’s Mauritania’s and maintain a fair share of ocean treats.
For a peek into its buddies next door or further geographic fun, check out articles about mali neighbouring countries, morocco neighbouring countries, and niger neighbouring countries.
Neighbouring Nations Details
Algeria and Mauritania
Algeria gives Mauritania a high-five with its border in the northeast. They share about 460 kilometers (285 miles) of line in the sand. For you trivia buffs — it’s mostly sandy desert, not exactly prime real estate. That tough climate doesn’t encourage many folks to settle down, so action across this border is about as lively as a snail race.
Mali and Mauritania
Next, Mali and Mauritania are in a long-distance relationship along a hefty 2,237 kilometers (1,390 miles) of border to the east and southeast. They’re kind of like two puzzle pieces dealing with similar jigsaws — both grapple with creeping deserts and migration questions. They’ve teamed up on some hefty issues, which has forged a bond (and an occasional headache).
Senegal and Mauritania
Then there’s Senegal, chillin’ on Mauritania’s southwest side, with 742 kilometers (461 miles) of territory in common. The River Senegal is their shared celebrity, front and center, shaping life and work along the way. It’s not all smooth sailing though. Both countries have shadows of the French colonial days lingering in their political and cultural interactions.
| Country | Border Length (km) | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Algeria | 460 | Sandy desert stretches |
| Mali | 2,237 | Economic/security buddy system |
| Senegal | 742 | River Senegal, colonial rewind |
Senegal and Mauritania had a rough patch from 1989 to 1991. Bickering over grazing rights and River Senegal caused quite a mess, claiming lives and shredding diplomatic ties. But hey, after that awkward silence, they’re working on patching things up, sorting out nagging issues together.
Peek into more about border-based friendships by checking out pages like niger neighbouring countries and mali neighbouring countries. These tales offer some serious insight into the complex maze of regional chill and antics.
Population and Density
Peeking into Mauritania’s population and how folks spread across the country offers a decent snapshot of its land and people patterns. Let’s check out the numbers and city life over in Mauritania.
Population of Mauritania
So, Mauritania’s got around 5 million people hanging out in 2023 (World Bank). It’s got a whopping area of, like, 1,030,700 square kilometers, but a chunk of that’s just sandy Sahara Desert. Not a lot of people per square kilometer, that’s for sure.
| Population Thing | What It Is |
|---|---|
| Total People Count | 5,000,000 |
| How Big the Land Is (sq km) | 1,030,700 |
| How Many Folks per sq km | 5 |
With only 5 folks per square kilometer, Mauritania’s pretty roomy compared to other spots on the globe. It’s mostly the desert taking up space. Not much room for a big crowd!
Urbanization Rate in Mauritania
When it comes to city living, more than half the people in Mauritania have ditched the open land for urban spots. Like 61.2% live in cities (World Bank). The hotspots are places like Nouakchott — the big cheese capital, and Nouadhibou — where the money stuff happens.
| Urban Living Stuff | Data |
|---|---|
| City Dwellers (%) | 61.2 |
| Big City Names | Nouakchott, Nouadhibou |
Mauritanians, just like people everywhere, are heading to cities for jobs, schools, and docs. Want more info on how other places stack up? Check out our takes on neighbors like Malawi and Montenegro.
Getting a grip on these numbers helps in understanding how Mauritania rolls, especially with pals like Mali and Senegal nearby.
International Relations
Mauritania’s global connections are both clever and strategic, showing off its unique spot bridging North Africa with sub-Saharan regions. Kind of like the cool mailbox at the end of the block where everyone wants to drop by and chat.
Foreign Relations of Mauritania
Mauritania has made diplomatic pals all over the map. Here are a few notable partnerships:
- China: This friendship’s all about the benjamins – economic ties are tight and there’s been some wheeling and dealing in the oil business, making the bond super strong.
- France: Sure, they don’t always see eye to eye, but France remains a pretty important buddy, sticking around for all things politics and money.
- Japan: Trading and getting a hand with development keeps the relationship with Japan on solid ground. They’re great at being supportive.
- Pakistan: They share a handshake over military support and trade, which keeps the relationship mutually rewarding.
- South Korea: It’s all about business and tech swaps, with both countries benefitting from economic and technology trades.
Mauritania once had ties with Israel, but things got a little rough around 2009 over the Gaza conflict, and they decided to call it quits.
Diplomatic Ties with Neighboring Countries
Playing nice with the neighbors is crucial, both for Mauritania and any kind of peaceful living situation.
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Algeria: They’ve been on a diplomatic roller coaster since 1964. The ride got bumpy during the Western Sahara kerfuffle, but eventually, the journey smoothed out with Mauritania waving the neutrality flag.
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Mali: The two nations sealed their friendship with the Treaty of Kayes back in ’63. Their bond is deeply rooted in cultural and economic connections, plus they team up on big-ticket issues like security and trade. Check out more about Mali’s neighbors.
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Senegal: Sharing a border makes staying chummy all the more important. They focus on keeping things stable in the neighborhood, trading goodies, and swapping culture like good friends do.
Mauritania’s also on speaking terms with other North African and sub-Saharan nations, making it the friendly bridge in the area.
| Country | Year They Shook Hands | What They’re Up To |
|---|---|---|
| Algeria | 1964 | Trading stuff, keeping peace |
| Mali | 1963 | Securing the place, exchanging goods |
| Senegal | – | Being good neighbors, sharing stories |
| China | – | Money moves, oil stuff |
| France | – | Political gab, business dealings |
For more deep dives on how these neighbors play into each other’s political playgrounds, check out articles about Morocco’s neighbors and Niger’s neighbors.
Conflict and Severe Illness
Border Disputes and Tangled Affairs
Mauritania finds itself right in North Africa, sharing spaces with countries that often lead to touchy disagreements. Over the years, these have cooked up conflicts, especially with Senegal and Western Sahara.
| Country | Length of Border (miles) | Key Issues |
|---|---|---|
| Senegal | 742 | Clashes over who gets to graze where and rights around the River Senegal |
| Mali | 1,390 | The longest mix-up, thanks to old French colonial maps |
| Western Sahara | 97 | A tango of territory, fueled by Mauritania eyeing a piece for itself |
The hustle between Mauritania and Senegal took center stage from 1989 to 1991. Grazing rights and the River Senegal had everyone riled up, sparking violent skirmishes and costing many lives. Adding fuel to the fire, non-Arabic-speaking Mauritanians (mostly black people) found themselves booted out.
Dengue Unease in Mauritania
Things aren’t just heated due to land squabbles; enter dengue, the mosquito-bringing viral headache that grumbles like a harsh flu. It’s been a thorn in Mauritania’s side for a while, underscoring why health beef-ups and buddying with international groups matter to slow its roll.
| Year | Dengue Cases | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 450 | Moderate |
| 2012 | 680 | Rough |
| 2015 | 300 | Moderate |
| 2018 | 750 | Rough |
Keeping such health scares in check means pulling together resources with neighbors and global health squads. Learn more on how joint efforts can slap down regional health hiccups in our piece about North Africa’s health nuts and bolts.
Grasping the map and politics around Mauritania and its neighbors is key when poking into border clashes and health troubles. For sharper looks at other countries’ boundaries, peek at pieces on Mali neighboring countries or Morocco neighboring countries.
