UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Mauritania
Mauritania has 2 sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List (1 cultural and 1 natural), the first inscribed in 1989 (Banc d'Arguin National Park). The map below plots every one of them alongside the rest of the List, and each site is written up in full further down the page.
- World Heritage Sites
- 2
- Cultural
- 1
- Natural and Mixed
- 1
- First Inscribed
- 1989
Map of World Heritage Sites in Mauritania
CulturalNaturalMixedIn DangerLarge dots are in Mauritania. Click a dot to read about the site.
Banc d'Arguin National Park
Mauritania · 20.2347° N, 16.1089° W · 12,000 km² · 123 km from Nouadhibou
The Banc d'Arguin National Park (Arabic: حوض أركين, romanized: Ḥawḍ ʾArkīn, French: Parc national du Banc d'Arguin) of Bay of Arguin lies in Western Africa on the west coast of Mauritania between Nouakchott and Nouadhibou and is the former mouth of the Tamanrasset River. The World Heritage Site is a major site for migratory birds and breeding birds, including flamingos, pelicans and terns. Much of the breeding is on sand banks including the islands of Tidra, Niroumi, Nair, Kijji and Arguim. The surrounding waters are some of the richest fishing waters in western Africa and serve as nesting grounds for the entire western region.
The Banc d'Arguin National Park is a Nature reserve that was established in 1976 to protect both the natural resources and the valuable fisheries, which makes a significant contribution to the national economy, as well as scientifically and aesthetically valuable geological sites, in the interests of and for the recreation of the general public.
The park's vast expanses of mudflats provide a home for over two million migrant waders from northern Europe, Siberia and Greenland.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Banc d'Arguin National Park (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Why Banc d'Arguin National Park Is Listed
- (ix)
- An outstanding example of ongoing ecological and biological processes.
- (x)
- The most important natural habitats for conserving biodiversity.
More about Banc d'Arguin National Park
UNESCO's Description
Fringing the Atlantic coast, the park comprises sand-dunes, coastal swamps, small islands and shallow coastal waters. The contrast between the harsh desert environment and the biodiversity of the marine zone has resulted in a land- and seascape of outstanding natural significance. A wide variety of migrating birds spend the winter there. Several species of sea turtle and dolphin, used by the fishermen to attract shoals of fish, can also be found.
From the UNESCO World Heritage Centre (CC BY-SA IGO 3.0).
Geology
The depositional profile of the northern Banc d'Arguin describes a flat-topped platform, on which extensive carbonate deposits developed largely in water depths <10 m below sea level. Vast areas of the Banc d'Arguin are covered by mixed carbonate–siliciclastic sediments dominated by barnacles and mollusc remains plus admixed aeolian siliciclastics. These sediments accumulate into extensive shoals, resulting in water depths less than 5 m several dozen km off the present shoreline. The bank edge forms a sharp morphological step, suddenly deepening from 10–20 m down to 30–50 m, and separates the inner shelf environments (<5–10 m; carbonate bank) from those of the outer shelf.
Climate
The Coastal Zone, or Sub-Canarian Zone, extends the length of the approximately 754 km-long Atlantic coast. Prevailing oceanic trade winds from the Canary Islands modify the influence of the harmattan, producing a humid but temperate climate. Rainfall here is minimal; in Nouadhibou it averages less than 30 mm annually and occurs between July and September. Temperatures are moderate, varying from mean maxima of 28 °C and 32 °C for Nouadhibou and Nouakchott, respectively, to mean minima of 16 °C and 19 °C.
History
Because of its rich fishery and strategic location, the territory has been highly coveted and disputed by the European colonial powers of Portugal, France, England, Brandenberg/Prussia and Holland.
The Wreck of Medusa – La Méduse was a French frigate that ran aground at high tide off Banc d'Arguin on 2 July 1816.A scene inspired by the account of survivors Alexandre Corréard and Jean-Baptiste-Henri Savigny was made the subject of a painting in 1819 by Théodore Géricault called "The Raft of the Medusa", which is displayed in the Louvre Museum in Paris, France.
Despite the Almoravid domination of Spain in the eleventh and twelfth centuries, there seems to be little evidence of contact during that time between Mauritania and Europe.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Banc d'Arguin National Park (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Key Facts
| Established | 1976 |
|---|---|
| Area | 12,000 km² |
Facts from Wikidata Q539518 (CC0).
Ancient Ksour of Ouadane, Chinguetti, Tichitt and Oualata
Mauritania · 20.9289° N, 11.6236° W
The ancient ksour of Ouadane, Chinguetti, Tichitt and Oualata in Mauritania were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1996.
Ouadane and Chinguetti are located in the Adrar Region, Tichitt in the Tagant Region and Oualata in the Hodh Ech Chargui Region. These cities were founded around the 11th century as stopping places for the caravans of the Trans-Saharan trade crossing the Sahara.
Once prosperous centres of Saharan culture, these cities survive today with many difficulties, not only due to the radical transformation of the trade routes, but above all because of the advancing sands of the desert.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Ancient Ksour of Ouadane, Chinguetti, Tichitt and Oualata (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Why Ancient Ksour of Ouadane, Chinguetti, Tichitt and Oualata Is Listed
- (iii)
- A unique testimony to a cultural tradition or civilisation.
- (iv)
- An outstanding example of a type of building or landscape.
- (v)
- An outstanding example of traditional human settlement or land use.
More about Ancient Ksour of Ouadane, Chinguetti, Tichitt and Oualata
UNESCO's Description
Founded in the 11th and 12th centuries to serve the caravans crossing the Sahara, these trading and religious centres became focal points of Islamic culture. They have managed to preserve an urban fabric that evolved between the 12th and 16th centuries. Typically, houses with patios crowd along narrow streets around a mosque with a square minaret. They illustrate a traditional way of life centred on the nomadic culture of the people of the western Sahara.
From the UNESCO World Heritage Centre (CC BY-SA IGO 3.0).
World Heritage in Mauritania: Quick Answers
- How many UNESCO World Heritage Sites are in Mauritania?
- Mauritania has 2 World Heritage Sites: 1 cultural and 1 natural.
- What was the first World Heritage Site in Mauritania?
- Banc d'Arguin National Park, inscribed in 1989. The most recent is Ancient Ksour of Ouadane, Chinguetti, Tichitt and Oualata, inscribed in 1996.
- What are the natural World Heritage Sites in Mauritania?
- Banc d'Arguin National Park.
- Are any World Heritage Sites in Mauritania in danger?
- None of the World Heritage Sites in Mauritania is on UNESCO's List of World Heritage in Danger.