Zouérat

The town developed from its importance to iron ore mining. It is surrounded by the hematite mines of Fderîck, Tazadit and Rouessa. The town houses the regional administration and military for Tiris Zemmour. Most of the town's population are employed directly and indirectly in the mining industry. A sizeable number of foreign workers from other African countries live in the town. Amenities include a medical clinic, social club, pool, school and shop.

Since 2006, a shanty town has grown around the town. In response authorities have begun construction of a wall, nicknamed locally as the "mur de la honte" (wall of shame), to separate the two areas.

Mining at the mountain was first recorded from the Kediet ej Jill in the 11th century, but it was not until 1952 that iron ore deposits were first commercially extracted on an industrial scale. Beginning in 1958, the first concessions on iron ore extraction were given to Miferma, Société des mines de fer de Mauritanie. At the time it was majority-controlled by European-based mining interests, however, in 1974 Miferma was nationalized by the Mauritanian government.

In 1981 a new iron ore deposit was discovered at Guelb el Rhein, {{convert|35|km|abbr=on}} north of Zouérat. Almost a decade later, another was found in 1990 at Guelb Mhadaouat about {{convert|65|km|abbr=on}} from Zouérat.{{cite web|url=http://lexicorient.com/e.o/zouerate.htm |title=Zouérat|website=www.lexicorient.com|access-date=April 2, 2012}} Other companies exploring for iron ore in the region include Xstrata and Arcelor Mittal. The reserves at the SNIM's Tazadit mine are estimated to be 200 million tonnes of hematite.

File:Map Mauritania Railway.png ]]

Zouérat is connected to the port of Nouadhibou by the Mauritania Railway. Freight trains that transport the iron ore to the coast can be as long as {{convert|2.5|km|abbr=on}} in length.{{cite web|url=http://www.snim.com/carnet/trainEn.html |title=The ore train |publisher=Société Nationale Industrielle et Minière |access-date=December 17, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080919182041/http://www.snim.com/carnet/trainEn.html |archive-date=September 19, 2008 }} The line is also used to bring in all the town's drinking water from Boulenoir.

Tazadit Airport is served by regular flights from/to Nouadhibou and seasonally from/to Casablanca using Mauritania Airlines International Boeing 737-500 and Boeing 737-700 planes.

Outside the mines, traffic drives on the right side of the road like the rest of Mauritania. However, all vehicles within the mining areas drive on the left. Traffic switches sides at the mine entrances.

Zouérat has a hot desert climate (Köppen climate classification BWh). The climate is hot and dry throughout the year, a description accredited to the town's location within the extremes of the Sahara.

{{Weather box

|width = auto

|location = Zouerat

|metric first = yes

|single line = yes

|Jan record high C = 34

|Feb record high C = 34

|Mar record high C = 37

|Apr record high C = 40

|May record high C = 43

|Jun record high C = 46

|Jul record high C = 47

|Aug record high C = 46

|Sep record high C = 44

|Oct record high C = 41

|Nov record high C = 38

|Dec record high C = 36

|year record high C = 47

|Jan high C = 22

|Feb high C = 25

|Mar high C = 26

|Apr high C = 31

|May high C = 33

|Jun high C = 36

|Jul high C = 40

|Aug high C = 40

|Sep high C = 37

|Oct high C = 32

|Nov high C = 27

|Dec high C = 23

|year high C = 31

|Jan low C = 12

|Feb low C = 15

|Mar low C = 16

|Apr low C = 18

|May low C = 20

|Jun low C = 23

|Jul low C = 26

|Aug low C = 27

|Sep low C = 26

|Oct low C = 22

|Nov low C = 18

|Dec low C = 14

|year low C = 20

|Jan record low C = 6

|Feb record low C = 8

|Mar record low C = 10

|Apr record low C = 10

|May record low C = 12

|Jun record low C = 15

|Jul record low C = 16

|Aug record low C = 18

|Sep record low C = 17

|Oct record low C = 12

|Nov record low C = 10

|Dec record low C = 6

|year record low C = 6

|Jan precipitation mm = 4

|Feb precipitation mm = 2

|Mar precipitation mm = 2

|Apr precipitation mm = 1

|May precipitation mm = 1

|Jun precipitation mm = 2

|Jul precipitation mm = 3

|Aug precipitation mm = 8

|Sep precipitation mm = 21

|Oct precipitation mm = 5

|Nov precipitation mm = 4

|Dec precipitation mm = 3

|source 1 = Weatherbase

}}

{{Commons category|Zouerat}}

• Railway stations in Mauritania
• Tiris Zemmour

{{Reflist}}

{{Communes of Mauritania}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Zouerat}}

Category:Tiris Zemmour region

Category:Regional capitals in Mauritania

Category:Communes of Mauritania

Category:Railway stations in Mauritania