Travel Guide Atar

Much less famous than Chinguetti and Ouadane, its illustrious neighbors, Atar is nonetheless the gateway to the Adrar region, and it is here that the small airport that welcomes travelers from France every Sunday is located. Its name means "road" in Soninke, and "new city" in Berber. Atar has seen a sharp increase in its population with the arrival of desert-loving tourists, and was known to be quite tumultuous in high season. Today, it is getting its hopes up after several years of closure.Of more recent creation than the historical cities of Mauritania since its mosque dates from the XVIIth century, Atar lived for a long time of the trans-Saharan trade between the north and the south. During the period of French occupation, its inhabitants fiercely opposed this enterprise. The French had made the capture of Atar a major issue in the pacification of Mauritania. Its fall, in 1909, did not ensure the end of the troubles for France, since the region was agitated by rebel leaders until 1933. It almost regained its prestige in 1960, when the capital of the new independent republic was chosen. Its geographical location made it hopeful that it would be chosen, but Nouakchott was preferred.In 1957, the city was almost swept away by the flood of the wadi. Dikes protect it since then.