Sand, varying in color and composition, covers 40 percent of the surface of the country, forming dunes that appear in all zones except the Senegal River Valley. Fixed sand dunes are composed of coarse, fawn-colored sand, while shifting ("mobile") dunes consist of fine, dustlike, reddish-colored sands that can be carried by the wind. Plateaus generally are covered with heavier blue, gray, and black sands that form a crusty surface over layers of soft, loose sand.

PHYSICAL MAP OF MAURITANIA

Mauritania ranks twenty ninnth in size after Bolivia. It is almost same to Egypt in size. The land of the country is more or less plain. This plain is interrupted in some places by the long narrow natural elevations, which is called ridges. The Kediet Ijill peak claims the highest elevation in the country. It rises almost 915 meter above the sea level. On the other hand Sebkhet Te-n-Dghamcha that goes up to 5 meter below the sea claims the lowest point in Mauritania.

CLIMATE OF MAURITANIA

It is always very important to gather some details about the climate of the country you are going to visit. That will help you to choose the best time for visiting the place. In Mauritania, the weather remains basically very hot throughout the year. Especially the weather of the southern regions of the country does fluctuate very much. Rainfall is very rare in this country. However suring the summer months you can face a little rain. So you can well understand that winter is the best time to visit the counrty. To say more clearly, the months between December and March are the most suitable time for the travelors.

FLORA AND FAUNA OF MAURITANIA

Flora : The vegetation of Islamic Republic of Mauritania is very poor due to the desert climate. Only a few species can be found in this counry. The varities are very rich either. However in the oasis area the species such as baobab tree, palms and acacias are found in huge quantity. Some cactus trees also grow in large number in this climate. On the other hand, the Senegal River valley region is characterized by varieties of willows, jujube, acacias and some other plants.

Fauna : The animal kingdom is also affected by the climate of he country. If you proceed to the southern regions of the country, you will find various species of cheetahs, lions, jackals, crocodiles, panthers, hippopotami, hyenas, monkeys, otters and so on. The northern region is also known for some varieties of animals such as wild sheep, ostriches, antelopes etc. Some other species of large sized birds, ducks can also be found in this region. Keep on browsing through Mapsofworld for more such detailed information on Islamic Republic of Mauritania and other countries worldwide.