Nouadhibou

Nouadhibou (formerly Port Etienne; pop. ca. 90,000) is the second largest city in Mauritania and serves as the country's commercial center.

It is situated on a 40-mile peninsula or headland called Ras Nouadhibou , Cap Blanc, or Cabo Blanco, of which the western side, with the city of Lagouira, is part of Western Sahara. Nouadhibou is less than a mile from the border.

The city is divided into four major areas: the city centre, including the airport, Numerowatt to the north, the main residential area, Cavado to the south, a dormitory town for Port Minéralier , in the far south, from which iron ore mined in Zouerat is exported.

Attractions in Nouadibou include the Table Remarquable , several markets, a ships' graveyard and Mediterranean monk seals.

The major economic activity is fishing; however, the largest industry is processing iron ore transported by train from the interior mining towns of Zouérat and Fdérik ; the railway also carries passengers, and also calls at Choum .

External links

• Maps: [1], [2], [3]
• http://i-cias.com/mauritania/nouadhib.htm