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Western Sahara
From Wikitravel
Africa : North Africa : Western Sahara
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Contents
Location
Flag
Quick Facts
Capital
El Aaiun
Government
territory contested by Morocco and Polisario Front (Popular Front for the Liberation of the Saguia el-Hamra and Río de Oro)
Area
266,000 sq km
Population
273,008 (July 2006 est.)
Language
Hassānīya Arabic, Moroccan Arabic, Castillian Spanish by small Spanish expatriate community
Religion
Sunni Muslim (Maliki school)
Electricity
127-220V/50Hz (European plug)
Calling Code
+212
Internet TLD
.eh reserved, but unassigned
Time Zone
UTC
Western Sahara is an area in Saharan Africa bordering the Atlantic Ocean, between Mauritania and Morocco. Its governance is disputed, but the majority of it is occupied by Morocco.
[edit] Regions
While there is a large coastline, much of it is rocky and not fit for beaches or travel. Large-scale fishing and ports are available at Ad Dakhla. Much of the territory is arid desert. The area near the sand wall created by the Moroccan military (also known as "the berm") is surrounded by land mines and should be avoided. Administratively, the territory was divided by Spain into two regions: the northern strip known as Saguia el-Hamra, and the southern two-thirds named Río de Oro.
[edit] Cities
[edit] Under SADR administration
[edit] Other destinations
For those interested in sight-seeing, there are few opportunities for wildlife or natural formations other than the dunes. The area controlled by the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) - known as the Free Zone or Liberated Territories - is of interest to those interested in the political conflict.
[edit] Understand
  Map of Western Sahara
Morocco occupied and virtually annexed the northern two-thirds of Western Sahara (formerly Spanish Sahara) in 1976, and much of the southern portion of the territory in 1979, following Mauritania's withdrawal. A guerrilla war with the liberation movement Polisario Front contesting Rabat's sovereignty ended in a 1991 cease-fire; a referendum on final status has been repeatedly postponed.
The people are of Arab and Berber ethnicity and speak the Hassānīya dialect of Arabic.
Western Sahara depends on pastoral nomadism, fishing, and phosphate mining as the principal sources of income for the population. The territory lacks sufficient rainfall for sustainable agricultural production, and most of the food for the urban population must be imported. Virtually all trade and other economic activities are controlled by the Moroccan government. Moroccan energy interests in 2001 signed contracts to explore for oil off the coast of Western Sahara, which has angered the Polisario and international observers. Incomes and standards of living in Western Sahara are substantially below the Moroccan level.
[edit] Climate
Western Sahara is a hot, dry desert; consequently, rain is rare, but flash floods occur. Cold offshore air currents produce fog and heavy dew. Due to the inability of sand to absorb heat, harsh cold nights are common.
[edit] Landscape
Mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or sandy surfaces rising to small mountains in south and northeast. Low-lying sand dunes cover the territory.
[edit] Get in
[edit] By plane
The only international airport is in El Auin, the capital. Flights come from the Canary Islands, Morocco, and Spain. Other airports are located in Dakhla and Smara.
[edit] By train
There is only one rail, carrying passengers to the capital, El Aaiun, from Morocco.
[edit] By car
To arrive by car, one must either pass through Moroccan-controlled checkpoints along the border, or enter into the Free Zone through Algeria or Mauritania. The latter has virtually no roads, so driving will only be possible with a sport-utility vehicle.
[edit] By bus
Buses are only present in large metropolitan districts such as El Aauin and Smara.
[edit] By boat
The only boats that go to or from Western Sahara come from the Canaries.
[edit] Get around
The Sahrawis of Western Sahara speak the Hassaniya dialect of Arabic. The literacy level is likely lower than that of Morocco, which is 50%, so expect to speak rather than write. Some old signs are still written in Spanish. The Sahrawi population living in the refugee camps located in Algeria are over 90% literate and some of the older Sahrawi generation still speak Spanish. As a consequence of Moroccan occupation, French can be used with a small business class.
The Moroccan dirham is widely-accepted, although the SADR has minted pesetas.
Prices are lower than in Morocco, in part due to subsidization by the Moroccan government.
Certain foodstuffs (e.g. sugar) are subsidized by the Moroccan government to encourage Moroccan migration to the area.
Traditional Sahrawi hospitality includes the serving of tea to all guests in one's home.
[edit] Stay safe
Hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur during winter and spring; widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of time, often severely restricting visibility.
[edit] Stay healthy
[edit] Respect
The culture is Islamic but not particularly strict; the form of Islam that developed among the nomad population is non-mosque-based. If you are in the occupied region, political and social displays of Sahrawi nationalism are violently repressed by Moroccan police and military.
[edit] Contact
Its telephone system is sparse and limited.
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