Rosso 2421457 208134772 2008-04-25T16:22:13Z Jay Pegg 6614019 {{for|Rosso}} {{Infobox Settlement |official_name = {{PAGENAME}} |native_name = |image_skyline = Rosso-mosquee2.jpg |imagesize = 320px |image_caption = Rosso mosque |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 = [[Trarza]] |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=2002 |population_footnotes = |population_total = 48, 922 |population_urban = |population_metro = |population_density_sq_mi = |population_density_km2 = |timezone = |utc_offset = |timezone_DST = |utc_offset_DST = |latd=16|latm=31|lats=|latNS=N |longd=15|longm=55|longs=|longEW=W |elevation_footnotes= |elevation_m = |elevation_ft = |postal_code_type = |postal_code = |area_code = |website = |footnotes = }} '''Rosso''' is the major city of south-western [[Mauritania]] and capital of [[Trarza]] region. It is situated on the [[Senegal River]] at the head of year-round navigation. The town is 204 km south of the capital [[Nouakchott]]. The Arabic name is Al-Quwarib. == Overview == Under French colonial rule [[Senegal]] and Mauritania were administered as a single entity. When independence came, the new frontier was drawn along the Senegal River, thus splitting the small town of Rosso in two. This article refers to Mauritanian Rosso, on the northern bank of the river. Originally a staging-post for the [[gum arabic]] trade, Rosso has grown rapidly since independence. From a population of a mere 2 300 in 1960 it has now overtaken [[Kaédi]] to become the 3rd largest city in the country with 48 922 inhabitants (2000 census). South-western Mauritania is predominantly a [[Wolof]] -speaking area but many members of Mauritania's other ethnic groups have moved to the town to escape the severe problems of [[desertification]] further north. Rosso's occupies a strategic position at the international ferry-crossing on the main road between Nouakchott and the Senegalese capital of [[Dakar]]. Economically the town has benefited but its fortunes are very dependent on the state of relations between the two countries. From 1990-92 the border crossing was closed and there have been repeated movements of refugees in both directions through the town. Rosso has the highest annual rainfall in the country at 300mm/yr and is one of the market towns which serve the narrow strip of agricultural land stretching along the southern frontier of Mauritania. But even here the Sahara is encroaching. Major irrigation projects have been carried out on the northern bank of the Senegal River, financed by the [[United Arab Emirates]], allowing an expansion in the production of [[cash crop]]s such as [[mentha|mint]]. In 2004 however up to 80% of crops were lost as a result of the infestation of [[locust]]s which affected the whole of the western [[Sahel]]. This was followed by a severe drought. It was a bitter irony then that in August 2005 some 10,000 people were displaced by flooding. The city is near the [[Diawling National Park]]. Rosso is also known for the internationally renowned [http://archnet.org/library/sites/one-site.tcl?site_id=266 Satara Zone Housing project](external link). == References == {{reflist}} * [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/MR/0/Rosso.html FallingRain Map - elevation = 45m] {{coor title dm|16|31|N|15|55|W|region:MR_type:city}} {{Mauritania-geo-stub}} [[Category:Cities, towns and villages in Mauritania]] [[Category:History of Mauritania]] [[Category:French West Africa]] [[es:Rosso]] [[fr:Rosso (Mauritanie)]] [[ja:ロッソ (モーリタニア)]] [[pl:Rosso]] [[sv:Rosso]]