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Nouakchott
Arabic:
nuwākshawt
Capital of Mauritania with 650,000 inhabitants (2005 estimate). Nouakchott is situated slightly inland in southern Mauritania, in a flat landscape. The region of Nouakchott corresponds with the city borders, and covers an area of 1,000 km².
The economic base is administration and economic activities, and some domestic industry. Higher education with the National School of Administration, the National Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies. The centre of Nouakchott is small and low-scale, while all settlements making up Nouakchott are widespread, with small houses of one storey.
HISTORY
1957: Nouakchott, at that time just a small village, is selected capital of forthcoming independent Mauritania. The city is planned for 15,000 inhabitants.
1969: Number of inhabitants passes 20,000.
1976: The city is attacked by Polisario, the army of Western Sahara, as part of Mauritania's war.
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By: Tore Kjeilen
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