Zouérat

Zouérat

Zouérat (Arabic: الزويرات) is the largest town in northern Mauritania. It is also the capital of the Tiris Zemmour region.

The town is located at the far eastern end of the Mauritania Railway, which goes all the way to Nouadhibou. This makes it an important place for transportation in the area.

History

Zouérat grew because of its important iron ore mines. The town has offices for local leaders and military forces. Many people work in mining, and some come from other African countries. The town has a clinic, a social club, a pool, a school, and shops.

Since 2006, a small neighborhood formed around the town. Workers started building a wall to separate these areas. People call this wall the "mur de la honte" or wall of shame.

Mining

People first found iron ore at the mountain Kediet ej Jill in the 11th century, but large-scale mining began in 1952. In 1958, the first rights to mine were given to Miferma, a company partly owned by European companies. Later, in 1974, the Mauritanian government took control of Miferma.

In 1981, another iron ore spot was found north of Zouérat, and in 1990, another was found farther away. Today, the Tazadit mine is thought to hold about 200 million tonnes of hematite. Companies like Xstrata and Arcelor Mittal also look for iron ore in the area.

Transport

Zouérat is connected to the port of Nouadhibou by the Mauritania Railway. Big trains carrying iron ore to the coast can be as long as 2.5 km. The railway also brings drinking water to the town from Boulenoir.

Tazadit Airport has regular flights to and from Nouadhibou and sometimes to Casablanca using planes from Mauritania Airlines International. Outside the mines, people drive on the right side of the road, but inside the mining areas, vehicles drive on the left side.

Climate

Zouérat has a hot desert climate. It is very warm and dry all year. This is because the town is in the Sahara, one of the driest places on Earth.