Get app
Photo: Laminesall96, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.How well do you know Nouakchott? Test your knowledge on the history, culture, landmarks, and daily life of Mauritania's vibrant coastal capital.
Desert Wanderer 0–4 · Sahara Neighbor 5–8 · True Nouakchottois 9–10
Pick one
The official currency of Mauritania is the ouguiya, which is unique because it is one of only two circulating currencies in the world that does not use a decimal system. Instead, each ouguiya is divided into five khoums, making it a fascinating currency to use for travelers.
Photo: Ivanh1, Wikimedia Commons, CC0.
Pick one
Thieboudienne, often spelled Chebujen in Hassaniya Arabic, is a beloved dish made of fish, rice, and tomato sauce, simmered with vegetables like carrots and cabbage. Originating from coastal Wolof traditions, it has become a defining culinary staple across Nouakchott's households.
Photo: KVDP, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain.
Pick one
Until Mauritania gained independence, its colonial administration was based in Saint-Louis, Senegal. Because Saint-Louis was located outside Mauritania's borders, the newly independent nation needed to construct a completely new capital, leading to the rapid development of Nouakchott.
Photo: Jim Williams, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 igo.
Pick one
The famous atay tea ritual in Nouakchott features three distinct rounds of mint tea, each prepared with varying levels of sweetness. A local proverb explains the tradition beautifully: the first cup is as bitter as life, the second is as sweet as love, and the third is as gentle as death.
Pick one
The Port of Nouakchott, officially known as the Port de l'Amitie, was constructed with significant financial and technical assistance from China. Opened in 1986, this deepwater port dramatically boosted Mauritania's international trade by allowing large cargo ships to dock directly near the capital.
Pick one
Nouakchott–Oumtounsy International Airport replaced the older, congested city-center airport in 2016. Located about 25 kilometers north of the city, this state-of-the-art facility was designed to handle larger aircraft and serve as a modern gateway to West Africa.
Photo: elhassen sedigh, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Pick one
Nomads and treasure hunters bring the space rocks they find in the Mauritanian Sahara to Nouakchott, one of the main places where Saharan meteorites are sold. Dark stones stand out well against the pale sand, and a few rare Saharan meteorites have even turned out to be pieces of the Moon or Mars.
Photo: Calips, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.5.
Pick one
The University of Nouakchott Al Aasriya is the country's leading institution of higher education, welcoming thousands of students every year. It was reorganized in 2016 by merging the original university with the local school of science and technology to modernize its academic programs.
Photo: Chafei07, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Pick one
The small fishing village was turned into a brand-new capital for about 15,000 people. Droughts in the 1970s brought many families to the city, and today it is home to well over a million people, one of the largest cities in the Sahara.
Photo: Laminesall96, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Pick one
Teams of men drag heavy hand-knotted nets from the boats onto the Atlantic beach, while boys hurry back and forth with trays of fish. The market sells around 36 kinds of fish, plus all sorts of shellfish.
Photo: WRI Staff, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.
Paste the code into your page. The player fits itself in, and every vote counts in Votur.
On WordPress, Ghost or Squarespace? Just paste the link of this page into your post.
This is how it looks
Also fun
