Caravan Crossroads of Sahara
Adrar Plateau, Mauritania
Ouadane is a small town in northern Mauritania, lying on the Adrar Plateau, north east of Chinguetti. The old town is part of the Ancient Ksour of Ouadane, Chinguetti, Tichitt and Oualata - a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Though largely in ruins, with pile upon pile of stones, the ancient centre is still substantially intact, while a small modern settlement lies outside its gate.
Background
Ouadane was founded in 1147 by the Berber tribe - Idalwa el Hadji and soon became an important trading centre serving the caravans that crossed the Sahara.
A Portuguese trading post was established in 1487, but the town declined from the sixteenth century. The town illustrates a traditional way of life centred on the nomadic culture of the people of the western Sahara.