Nouakchott
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{{Infobox Settlement
|official_name = نواكشوط<br/>''Nouakchott''
|image_skyline = Nouakchott SandDunesEncroaching.jpg
|imagesize = 250px
|image_caption = [[Landsat]] image of sand dunes encroaching on Nouakchott.
|pushpin_map = Mauritania
|mapsize = 150px
|map_caption = Map of Mauritania showing Nouakchott
|subdivision_type = [[Capital district]]
|subdivision_name = Nouakchott
|leader_title = Mayor
|leader_name = Didi Ould Bounaama
|population_as_of = 1999
|population_total = 881000
|area_total_km2 = 1000
|area_total_sq_mi = 400
|latd=18 |latm=6 |latNS=N
|longd=15 |longm=57 |longEW=W
|elevation_m =
|elevation_ft =
}}
[[Image:Nouakchott Department.png|thumb|right|220px|Nouakchott department]]
'''Nouakchott''' ([[Arabic language|Arabic]]: {{rtl-lang|ar|نواكشوط}} ''or'' {{rtl-lang|ar|انواكشوط}} [alleged translation from [[Berber languages|Berber]] "The place of the winds"] Nawākšūṭ) is the [[capital]] and by far the largest city of [[Mauritania]]. It is one of the largest cities in [[Sahara]] and the cities north of the [[Atlas Mountains]] on [[Africa]]'s northern coast. The city is the administrative and economic centre of Mauritania.
==Geography==
[[Image:Central mosque in Nouakchott.jpg|thumb|right|300px|<center>Central mosque in Nouakchott <br> Mauritania, 2006</center>]]
Located on the [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]] coast of the Sahara, it lies on the west coast, on the [[Atlantic Ocean]], although with the exception of [[Nouakchott Wharf]] and a deep water [[port]], the coastal strip is mostly left empty and allowed to flood.
Due to the rapid build-up, the city is quite spread out, with few tall buildings. It also often acts as an interface between urban Mauritanians and their [[nomad]]ic fellow citizens.
Nouakchott is built around a large tree-lined street, [[Avenue Abdel Nasir]], which runs northeast through the city center from the airport. Other major streets are named (in [[French language|French]]) for notable Mauritanian figures, or international personages of the 1960s: Avenue de Gaulle, Avenue Kennedy, and Avenue Lumumba, for example.
Nouakchott is a vital city to Mauritania because of imports and exports, particularly of certain minerals and crops. Nouakchott also has 8 oil blocks off the coast to use.
Temperatures range between 33 °C (92 °F) and 13 °C (56 °F), and the average rainfall is {{convert|130|mm|in}} a year.
{{climate chart|Nouakchott
|16|28|0
|17|31|2
|19|33|1
|19|34|0
|21|35|0
|23|35|2
|24|32|12
|25|33|58
|26|36|39
|24|37|8
|20|34|3
|17|30|1
}}
==History==
A tiny fishing town until 1958, Nouakchott has been mentioned little throughout history. It is possible that the [[Berber people|Berber]] [[Muslim]] [[Almoravids]] were originally from the area. Despite its name, based on a Berber expression meaning "place of the winds", the city was selected as the capital city for its moderate climate and central location within the country.<ref>''Cities of the World'', Vol. 1, p331; Brian Rajewski, ed., for Eastword Publications Development Inc., Cleveland, Ohio; Gale Research, Detroit, 1999. ISBN 0-8103-7692-X.</ref>
Mauritania was part of the larger French colony of [[French West Africa]], and as such had no capital during the colonial period: [[Saint-Louis, Senegal|Saint-Louis]], in [[Senegal]] held that position. In 1957, this small port town was chosen to be the capital of the new country, and an ambitious building program was begun to increase its population to 15,000. In 1958 Mauritania was formed as an autonomous [[republic]] in the [[French Community]], and when that organization became moribund after 1962, Nouakchott became the capital of an independent country.
The city has had rapid growth, driven by the north African [[drought]] since the beginning of the 1970s: many have moved to the city in search of a better life. The population is estimated to have been just under 1,000,000 in 2000, and to have grown to above 2,000,000 as of 2008.
==Government==
[[Image:Nouakchott air 01.jpg|left|330px]]
The town was first divided into districts (''moughataa'') in 1973. First it was divided into four. From 1986, the city has been split into nine districts. [http://www.ami.mr/fr/bulletin20010701.htm]
* Arafat
* Dar Naim
* El Mina
* Ksar
* Riad
* Sebkha
* Tevragh-Zeina
* Teyarett
* Toujounine
==Demographics==
[[Image:Nouakchott-marche.jpg|thumb|right|300px|<center>Market in Nouakchott</center>]]
For comparison, its population was only 20,000 in 1969 and 150,000 in 1980. Part of the difficulty in estimating the city's population is that part of it is literally [[nomad]]ic, setting up tents in suitable locations, then packing up when the need strikes.
Although [[Islam]] is the state religion in Mauritania, Nouakchott includes the Cathedral of [[Saint Joseph|St. Joseph]], a [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholic]] [[cathedral]].
==Infrastructure==
Nouakchott has a [[List of deep water ports|deep-sea port]], opened in [[1986]], primarily used for imports. Annually, imports account for around 96.4 % of traffic at the port. A {{km to mi|1100}} road connects the city with [[Néma]] via [[Boutilimit]] and [[Kiffa]] [http://www.otal.com/mauritania/index.htm]. The city also features an [[Nouakchott International Airport|international airport]].
==Railway==
An agreement was signed on August 5, 2007 between Mauritania, [[Sudan]], and [[China]] to build $630m Mauritania [[Transport in Mauritania#Railways|Railway]] linking the port of [[Nouakchott]] and phosphate mines at [[Bofal]], about 430 km away. The line goes near the border with [[Senegal]].
== Fresh water ==
Although the rocks beneath the city contained a vast reservoir of [[fresh water]], known as the [[Trarza Lake]], fresh water is running out due to the large growth of the city.
==Education==
The city is home to the [[Université de Nouakchott]], which is the only university in [[Mauritania]] and was opened in 1981. Other higher education facilities include the [[National School of Administration]], and the [[National Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies]]. There are many primary and secondary schools, and an [[American International School of Nouakchott]].
==Culture==
[[Image:Fish market nouakchott mauritania.JPG|thumb|200px|<center>Fish market at the beach in Nouakchott, Mauritania.</center>]]
Attractions in Nouakchott include [[Nouakchott Museum]], several [[market]]s including [[Nouakchott Silver Market]], and the [[beach]]es. One beach is devoted to fishing boats where various species of fish can be bought fresh. The city also hosts the [[National Library]] and [[National Archives]]. Nouakchott is the principal location in Africa for world distribution of native [[Sahara]]n [[meteorite]]s.
==Sister cities==
*{{flagicon|Spain}} [[Madrid]], [[Spain]]
== See also ==
* [[Transport in Mauritania]]
== References ==
{{reflist}}
* Armelle Choplin et Riccardo Ciavolella, 2008 " Marges de la ville en marge du politique ? Logiques d’exclusion, de dépendance et d’autonomie à Nouakchott (Mauritanie) », Autrepart, n°45
*CHOPLIN A., 2006, Fabriquer des villes-capitales entre monde arabe et Afrique noire : Nouakchott (Mauritanie) et Khartoum (Soudan), étude comparée. Université Paris 1, 535 p.
* CHOPLIN A. 2006 « Le foncier urbain en Afrique : entre informel et rationnel, l’exemple de Nouakchott, Mauritanie », Les annales de géographie, n°647, pp. 69-91
* Anne-Marie Frérot, « Nouakchott, du puits nomade à la ville des pétroliers. Risques et représentations », ''Maghreb-Machrek'', n°190, hiver 2006-2007.
* Philippe Tanguy, « L'urbanisation irrégulière à Nouakchott : 1960-2000 », ''Insaniyat'', n°22, octobre - décembre 2003, (vol. VII, 4).
* DIAGANA I., 1993, Croissance urbaine et dynamique spatiale à Nouakchott, Thèse doct. : géographie : Lyon II, 314 p.)
* PITTE J.-R., 1977, Nouakchott, capitale de la Mauritanie. Paris : Univ. de Paris-Sorbonne, 200 p
* [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/MR/6/Nouakchott.html FallingRain Map - elevation = 7m ]
==External links==
*[http://www.lexicorient.com/mauritania/nouakch.htm Lexicorient: Nouakchott]
*[http://www.i-cias.com/m.s/mauritan/nouakch.htm Life in Nouakchott]
*[http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=17168 NASA Image]
{{Geolinks-cityscale|18.0669|-15.99}}
{{commons|category:Nouakchott|Nouakchott}}
{{Mauritania}}
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{{African capitals}}
[[Category:Nouakchott| ]]
[[Category:Coastal cities]]
[[Category:Capitals in Africa]]
[[Category:Cities, towns and villages in Mauritania]]
[[Category:Planned cities]]
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