Tagant Region

Tagant is a region in south-central Mauritania named for the Tagant Plateau. Its capital is Tidjikdja. Other major cities/towns include Tichit and Rachid, Nbeika. The region borders the Mauritanian regions of Adrar to the north, Hodh Ech Chargui to the east, Hodh El Gharbi and Assaba to the south and Brakna to the west. The Aoukar basin, which formerly gave name to the greater region, is located in the southern part of Tagant.As of 2013, the population of the region was 80,962, compared to 88,736 in 2011. There were 47.09 per cent females and 52.91 per cent males. As of 2008, the activity rate was 51.00 and economic dependency ratio was 0.81. As of 2008, the literacy rate for people aged 15 years and over was 58.10.GeographyMauritania 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 460m above the mean sea level. The rainfall in the northern regions closer to the Tropic of Cancer receives around 100mm of annual rainfall compared to the southern portions that receives around 660mm. The average temparature is 37.8C, while during the night it reaches 0C. 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 250mm of rainfall.