Ouadane
Arabic: وادان | |
|---|---|
Commune and town | |
 Old tower, Ouadane | |
  Ouadane Location in Mauritania | |
| Coordinates: 20°55′N 11°37′W / 20.917°N 11.617°W | |
| Country | Mauritania |
| Region | Adrar Region |
| Elevation | 407 m (1,335 ft) |
| Population (2000)[1] | |
| • Total | 3,695 |
| Official name | Ancient Ksour of Ouadane, Chinguetti, Tichitt and Oualata |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | iii, iv, v |
| Designated | 1996 (20th session) |
| Reference no. | 750 |
| Region | Arab States |
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.
- ^ Statistiques Démographiques : Résultats du RGPH 2000 des Wilayas, La Marie de la Commune de Ain Ehel Taya, archived from the original on 9 March 2009, retrieved 7 August 2011.