Geography & environment — Mauritania
Location, land area, terrain, climate, and natural resources.
Profile updated 2026-06-02
⚡ Geography & environment at a glance
Location, land area, terrain, climate, and natural resources. Key figure for Mauritania: Africa
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Location & size
- Geographic Location
Africa
- Geographic Coordinates
20 00 N, 12 00 W
- Total Area
397,953 Square Miles 1,030,700 Square Kilometers
- Land Area
397,953 Square Miles 1,030,700 Square Kilometers
- Land Boundaries
3,153 Miles 5,074 Kilometers
- Border Countries
Algeria 463 km, Mali 2,237 km, Senegal 813 km, Western Sahara 1,561 km
- Coastline
469 Miles 754 Kilometers
Physical geography
- Terrain
mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central hills
- Highest Point
915 Meters
- Highest Point Location
Kediet Ijill 915 m
- Lowest Point
-5 Meters
- Lowest Point Location
Sebkhet Te-n-Dghamcha -5 m
- Natural Resources
iron ore, gypsum, copper, phosphate, diamonds, gold, oil, fish
- Irrigated Land
174 Square Miles 450 Square Kilometers
Climate & time
- Time Zone
UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Climate
- Climate
Mauritania's climate is hot and arid, except in the far south, which has higher humidity. In Nouakchott, daytime temperatures reach 85°F in the winter, although at night sweaters and blankets are needed. Summer temperatures regularly reach over 100°F during the day. It is usually a dry heat that most find more bearable than the same temperatures with high humidity. Summer evenings can be considerably cooler. The area's fine sand makes beach going one of the highlights of a tour in Nouakchott. However, winds can stir this sand into sandstorms that last several hours. These infrequent sandstorms occur throughout the year, although they are less frequent during the summer and fall months.
- Terrain
mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central hills
- Location
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Senegal and Western Sahara
- Total Area
397,953 Square Miles 1,030,700 Square Kilometers
- Border Countries
Algeria 463 km, Mali 2,237 km, Senegal 813 km, Western Sahara 1,561 km
Environment
- 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
- 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