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All Mauritania

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Mauritania

14 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Mauritania

Updated November 7, 2023

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An ancient Quran in Chinguetti.
Chinguetti
Port de PĂŞche.
Nouakchott
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Stories

Unusual Attractions in Mauritania

Riding atop the train.

Choum, Mauritania

Mauritania Railway

Climb atop one of the world's longest and heaviest trains for an unbelievable journey across the Sahara Desert.

Mauritania

Richat Structure

A geological bull's-eye visible from outer space.
An ancient Quran in Chinguetti.

Chinguetti, Mauritania

The Libraries of Chinguetti

Five ancient libraries, little changed for centuries, preserve a medieval archive of Quranic lore and civic documents
Ouadane Mosque.

Ouadane, Mauritania

Ouadane Mosque

This remarkably well-preserved mosque stands amid an 11th-century caravansary.

Kaédi, Mauritania

Abandoned Resort

The beehive-like buildings of this abandoned resort reside near the border of Mauritania and Senegal.
Port de PĂŞche.

Nouakchott, Mauritania

Port de PĂŞche

Thousands of colorful pirogues showcase ingenious craftsmanship at the largest fishermen port in Nouakchott.
Temporary exhibition.

Nouakchott, Mauritania

Galerie Zeinart

The quaint gallery displays works by artists from all across Mauritania.
The Berm, Western Sahara

Mauritania

Moroccan Western Sahara Wall

This fortified sand barrier dividing a contested territory is the longest minefield in the world.
See All 14 Things To Do in Mauritania
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Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Explore Mauritania

Deserts 5
Architecture 2
Shipwrecks 2
Geology 2
Geological Oddities 2
Markets 2
Ship Graveyards 2
Mosques 2
Ships 2
History 2

Mauritania Leaderboard

Places Added

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Places Edited

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    2
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    2
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Places Visited

  1. Max Cortesi
    14
  2. winparnes
    10
  3. jnpeerenboom
    9
  4. Andrasta
    9
  5. robertkylemolina
    9
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Recent Mauritania Activity

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    wants to go to Richat Structure

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Stories About Mauritania

Podcast: The Belt and the Berm, Part 2

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
by The Podcast Team
April 29, 2021
The oldest intact pigments ever found are about the color of a sunset.

Found: The First Color Made By a Living Thing

It's 1.1 billion years old, and it's bright pink.
by Cara Giaimo
July 10, 2018

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