Ouadane

Ouadane
Arabic: وادان
Commune and town
Old tower, Ouadane
Old tower, Ouadane
Ouadane is located in Mauritania
Ouadane
Ouadane
Location in Mauritania
Coordinates: 20°55′N 11°37′W / 20.917°N 11.617°W / 20.917; -11.617
CountryMauritania
RegionAdrar Region
Area
 • Total
118,210 km2 (45,640 sq mi)
Elevation
407 m (1,335 ft)
Population
 (2023 census)
 • Total
3,833
 • Density0.032/km2 (0.084/sq mi)
Official nameAncient Ksour of Ouadane, Chinguetti, Tichitt and Oualata
TypeCultural
Criteriaiii, iv, v
Designated1996 (20th session)
Reference no.750
RegionArab States
Trade routes of the Western Sahara desert c. 1000–1500. Goldfields are indicated by brown shading.

Ouadane or Wādān (Arabic: وادان) is a small town in the desert region of central Mauritania, situated on the southern edge of the Adrar Plateau, 93 km northeast of Chinguetti. The town was a staging post in the trans-Saharan trade and for caravans transporting slabs of salt from the mines at Idjil.

The old town, a World Heritage Site, though in ruins, is still substantially intact, while a small modern settlement lies outside its gate.

Ouadane is the closest town to the Richat Structure, a massive circular landmark visible from space.

The whole Ouadane commune has a total size of 118,210 km², mostly consisting of desert. The main town is located in the south-west of the commune.[1]

  1. ^ "Ouadane (Agricultural Urban Commune, Mauritania) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location". www.citypopulation.de. Retrieved 2024-10-25.