2020 Travel the World - Week 22

I started a Travel the World Series last year. (It should be noted that I did a similar thing in 2018, only it was the 50 states.) For 50 weeks in 2019, I visited a different country (virtually) and shared facts about that country. I then selected one tidbit of information about that week's country as inspiration for a card. Fifty weeks; fifty countries... BUT there are 195 countries in the world so that was just a little over 25% of them. Of course I couldn't stop, so this year I'm continuing with fifty more countries, one per week.

This week's country is...

Mauritania

The official name of the country is the Islamic Republic of Mauritania.

It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west, Western Sahara in the north, Algeria in the northeast, Mali in the east and southeast, and Senegal in the southwest.

Mauritania gained its independence from France on Nov. 28, 1960, and was admitted to the United Nations in 1961. 

With an area of 400,000 square miles, Mauritania is the 28th largest country in the world, and the 11th largest in Africa.

The terrain here is mostly barren, flat desert, with some hills in the centre of the country. 

Mauritania is four times the size of the UK but 70 per cent of it is covered by the Sahara Desert. 

If you look at Mauritania from space, you can see a clear bull’s-eye-like image called “The Eye of Africa.” It is a Richat structure with a diameter of about 30 miles and believed to be the result of the simultaneous lifting of the underlying geology.

Mauritania’s coast is essentially one long sandy beach that’s almost devoid of vegetation, but supports an astonishingly varied population of birds.

Fringing the Atlantic coast, the Banc d’Arguin National Park (one of Mauritania’s top attractions) comprises sand-dunes, coastal swamps, small islands and shallow coastal waters. It is a major breeding site for migratory birds. A wide range of species include flamingos, broad-billed sandpipers, pelicans, and terns.

The country has only one other national park. 

Mauritania’s Bay of Nouadhibou, hides one of the biggest ships cemeteries in the world. There are more than 300 wrecks from all nations beached permanently on its shores.

With about 40% of its population still below the poverty line, Mauritania depends heavily on iron ore exports, fishing and off shore oil wells for its economic progress. In addition to ion ore, Mauritania’s other natural resources include gold, gypsum, phosphate, diamonds, copper and oil.

Mauritania is rich in mineral resources, especially iron and ore.

One of the longest trains in the world is found in Mauritania. This iron train is part of the Mauritania Railway and is considered one of the heaviest and longest trains in the world. This modern marvel spans for up to 5 kms and joins 200 carriages, transporting its cargo and wide-eyed passengers safely from Zouerate to the coast of Nouadhibou. Safely, but not sure how timely, as if it's not clear when it'll depart, it's even harder to guess when it'll reach its destination.

Offshore oil was discovered in Mauritania in 2001. Oil now is one of the country's main exports.

Its highest mountain, Mount Ijill, is made almost totally of iron ore, another major export.

Two species of gerbils and six species of scorpions are found only in Mauritania.

Only 42% of the country's adults can read.

Meal time in Mauritania consists of family members standing (or sometimes sitting) around a large common bowl filled with meat, rice, and vegetables. Each person takes food from the bowl by scooping it up with his/her right hand. The left hand is never used for eating, as it is considered unclean.

I decided to let this Mauritania fact be the inspiration for this week's card... Like many African countries, Mauritania boasts Lions, Gazelles, Leopards, Elephants, Baboons, Hyenas, Wolves, Giraffes and many more wild and endangered animals.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp Set: Unity Cuddlebug Giraffe stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Accent Opaque 120# White, Recollections Black, and SU Pear Pizzazz CS and DP from my scrap file

Die: MFT Stitched Rounded Rectangle

Embellishments: Eyelet Outlet Enamel Dots and Ribbon from an unknown vendor