Assaba Region
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Assaba ولاية العصابة |
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|---|---|
| Region of Mauritania | |
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| Coordinates: 16°36′N 11°55′W / 16.600°N 11.917°WCoordinates: 16°36′N 11°55′W / 16.600°N 11.917°W | |
| Country |
 Mauritania
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| Departments | |
| Capital | Kiffa |
| Area | |
| • Total | 36,600 km2 (14,100 sq mi) |
| Population (2013) | |
| • Total | 325,897 |
| • Density | 8.9/km2 (23/sq mi) |
Assaba (Arabic: ولاية العصابة) is a region in southern Mauritania, covering an area of 36,600 square km. It had a population of 325,897 at the 2013 Census. Its capital is Kifa. Other major cities/towns include Guerou. The region borders the Mauritanian regions of Brakna and Tagant to the north, the Mauritanian region of Hodh El Gharbi to the east, Mali to the south, and the Mauritanian regions of Gorgol and Guidimaka to the west. The Aoukar basin, which formerly gave name to the greater region, is located in the north and the east of the central part of Assaba.
As of 2013, the population of the region was 325,897, compared to 338,708 in 2011. There were 46.73 per cent females and 53.27 per cent males. As of 2008, the activity rate was 46.00 and economic dependency ratio was 1.13. As of 2008, the literacy rate for people aged 15 years and over was 50.30.
Mauritania is mostly covered with desert, with only its western regions around the coast of Atlantic Ocean having some vegetation. There are some oasis in the desert regions. Since it is a desert, there are large shifting dunes forming temporary ranges. The average elevation is around 460 m (1,510 ft) above the mean sea level. The rainfall in the northern regions closer to the Tropic of Cancer receives around 100 mm (3.9 in) of annual rainfall compared to the southern portions that receives around 660 mm (26 in). The average temparature is 37.8 °C (100.0 °F), while during the night it reaches 0 °C (32 °F). Due to the geography, the inhabitants historically, have been nomadic. In modern times, people have migrated to urban centres during the drought in 1970 and 1980. There are a few sedantary cultivators, who are located only in the Southern regions of the country. Research has indicated that the Saharan movement has resulted in reduction of rains in the region from the 1960s, when it received close to 250 mm (9.8 in) of rainfall.
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