Mauritania's Second City
Atlantic Mauritania, Mauritania
Formerly known as Port-Étienne, Nouadhibou, is the second largest city in Mauritania and serves as the country's commercial centre. There is little to offer for travellers, other than a place to rest, eat and stock up on supplies before the next leg of a Saharan adventure. Situated on a 40-mile peninsula or headland called Ras Nouadhibou (formerly Cap Blanc), Nouadhibou is less than a mile from the border with Western Sahara.
Background
The major economic activity is fishing. The Atlantic waters in the region are amongst the richest fishing grounds in the world. However, the largest industry is iron ore processing which is transported by train from the interior mining towns of Zouérat and Fdérik. These freight trains can be as much as 3 km long - reputedly the longest in the world. This unique railway also carries passengers and is a real adventure for those looking for a ride.
The city itself is divided into four major areas: the city centre, including the airport, Numerowatt to the north, the main residential area, Consado to the south, a dormitory town for Port Minéralier, in the far south, from which iron ore mined in Zouerat is exported.