Atar, Mauritania 1273367 200043985 2008-03-22T10:33:16Z Blofeld of SPECTRE 1616157 {{Infobox Settlement {{Infobox Settlement |official_name = Atar |native_name = |image_skyline = Atar panorama.jpg |imagesize = 340px |image_caption = |image_flag = |image_seal = |image_map = |map_caption = |pushpin_map = Mauritania |pushpin_label_position =bottom |pushpin_mapsize = 300 |pushpin_map_caption =Location in Mauritania |subdivision_type = [[Countries of the world|Country]] |subdivision_type1 = [[Regions of Mauritania|Region]] |subdivision_name =‎ [[Image:Flag of Mauritania.svg|25px]] [[Mauritania]] |subdivision_name1 = [[Adrar, Mauritania|Adrar Region]] |subdivision_type2 = |subdivision_name2 = |established_title = |established_date = |government_type = |leader_title = |leader_name = |area_magnitude = |area_total_sq_mi = |area_total_km2 = |area_land_sq_mi = |area_land_km2 = |area_urban_sq_mi = |area_urban_km2 = |area_metro_km2 = |area_metro_sq_mi = |population_as_of= |population_footnotes = |population_total = |population_urban = |population_metro = |population_density_sq_mi = |population_density_km2 = |timezone = |utc_offset = |timezone_DST = |utc_offset_DST = |latd=20|latm=31|lats=|latNS=N |longd=13|longm=03|longs=|longEW=W |elevation_footnotes= |elevation_m = |elevation_ft = |postal_code_type = |postal_code = |area_code = |website = |footnotes = }} '''Atar''' ([[Arabic language|Arabic]]: أطار) is a town in northwestern [[Mauritania]], the capital of the [[Adrar, Mauritania|Adrar Region]] and the main settlement on the [[Adrar Plateau]]. It is home to an [[airport]], a [[museum]] and a historic [[mosque]], constructed in [[1674]]. ==Tourism== Today, the Atar is best known to outsiders as an entryway for tourists to visit the ruins of the ancient Moorish cities of [[Ouadane]] and [[Chinguetti]]. It is also a key stop in the world's longest off-road race, the [[Paris Dakar Rally]], held every January. ==Water Supply== While the city sits within the [[Sahara Desert]], a nearby water supply of considerable size was recently discovered. An [[underground river]] was discovered by [[Russia]]n scientists using [[geoinformation]] to study the [[topography]] of the desert with [[satellites]]. They were operating at the request of the Mauritanian government. The find has been confirmed by the Mauritanian military. Eventually, the river will provide water enough to support Atar's entire population of some 50,000 people. [http://english.pravda.ru/world/2002/08/01/33665.html]. {{Mauritania-geo-stub}} {{coor title dm|20|31|N|13|03|W|region:MR-07_type:city(31000)}} [[Category:Cities, towns and villages in Mauritania]] [[Category:Adrar Region]] [[ar:أطار]] [[de:Atar]] [[es:Atar (Mauritania)]] [[fr:Atar (Mauritanie)]] [[is:Atar]] [[lv:Atāra]] [[lt:Ataras]] [[nl:Atar]] [[no:Atar]] [[pl:Atar]] [[sv:Atar, Mauretanien]]