Magnificent Mauritania Trivia Quiz

Answer: Western Sahara

Mauritania is bordered by Mali on the east and southeast, Algeria on the northeast, and Senegal on the southwest. Western Sahara borders Mauritania on the north but it is not an independent country. It is a disputed territory claimed by Morocco. Ifni was a disputed territory also but has now integrated into Morocco.

Answer: Arizona

Mauritania is 397,837 square miles (1,030,400 square kilometers) in area and is the world's 29th largest country after Bolivia.

Answer: Ouguiya

The Ouguiya was adopted as Mauritania's currency in 1973, switching from the CFA Franc which is still used in several former French colonies in Africa. The Ouguiya is divided into Khoums, five of which equal one Ouguiya. The Taka is the currency of Bangladesh, Dalasi is the currency of The Gambia, and New Kwanzaa is the currency of Angola.

Answer: Nouakchott

The city of Nouakchott is the capital of Mauritania and is located on the center of Mauritania's coastal area. The population (1999 estimate) was 881,000 persons. Nouadhibou is Mauritania's main port located on the northern coast of the country, Tidjikdja is a city located in the central area of the country, and Rosso is a city in the south along the border with Senegal.

Answer: Kediet Ijill

Kediet Ijill is 3002 feet (915 meters) high and is located near the town of Zouīrāt in the north-central area of the country. Sebkhet Te-n-Dghamcha is the lowest point in the country at -16.4 feet (-5 meters), El Djouf (Empty Quarter) is a large area of sand dunes that adjoins the Sahara desert in the northeast of the country, and Adrar is the name of a sandstone plateau located near the center of the country.

Answer: Sunni Islam

The country is near 100% Muslim, with almost all of the population being members of the Sunni Islam sect. Shia'a Islam and traditional African beliefs are all but nonexistent in Mauritania, and Zoroastrianism is an ancient Persian (Iranian) religion.

Answer: 28 November 1960

On November 28, 1960, Mauritania gained independence from France after being ruled since the late 1800's. Due to Mauritania's economic situation, Mauritania still depends on French aid to sustain itself.

Answer: Green background with yellow star above yellow horizontal crescent

The green background symbolizes Islam and the gold star and crescent represent the sands of the Sahara desert and are also symbols of Islam. It became the national flag on April 1, 1959.

Answer: Morocco

Mauritania and Morocco annexed Western Sahara in 1976, with Mauritania receiving the lower one-third of the territory. In 1979, after clashes with the Polisario, local inhabitants backed by Algeria, pushed Mauritania out and Morocco gained control of that third of the territory.

Answer: False

Slavery is illegal. Although the government abolished slavery in 1980, Mauritania still has approximately 90,000 black slaves (2003 estimate), mainly owned by African Arabs.