LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Mauritania: Desert
built 629 days ago
Approximately three quarters of Mauritania is desert or semidesert. As a result of extended, severe drought, the desert has been expanding since the mid-1960s. To the west, between the ocean and the plateaus, are alternating areas of clayey plains (regs) and sand dunes (ergs), some of which shift from place to place, gradually moved by high winds. The dunes generally increase in size and mobility toward the north.
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The crossing formalities are straightforward, and transitvisas, valid for 3 days only, for Mauritania can be bought at the border. There is a bureau de change at the border, and a vehicle insurance office and numerous hopeful guides for making the old desert crossing down to the capital.
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Recurrent coup attempts in 2003 and 2004 undermined economic growth in Mauritania - one of the poorest countries in the world. Despite its size, the country's 3 million people are confined to towns and cities and a few fertile areas. Most of the land is desert or semi-desert. Mauritania is making some progress toward achieving the targets set by its Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper and the Millennium Development Goals: the proportion of those living below the national poverty line declined from 50 per cent in 1990 to 46 per cent in 2000; access to education improved; and gender inequalities in primary school enrolment nearly disappeared.
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