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Rosso is the major city of south-western
was drawn along the Senegal River, thus splitting the small town of Rosso in two. This article refers to Mauritanian Rosso, on the northern bank of the river.
Originally a staging-post for the gum arabic trade, Rosso has grown rapidly since independence. From a population of a mere 2 300 in 1960 it has now overtaken Kaédi to become the 3rd largest city in the country with 48 922 inhabitants (2000 census).
Rosso occupies a strategic position at the international ferry-crossing on the main road between Nouakchott and the Senegalese capital of Dakar. Economically the town has benefited, but its fortunes are very dependent on the state of relations between the two countries. From 1990 to 1992 the border crossing was closed, due to the Mauritania–Senegal Border War, and there have been repeated movements of refugees in both directions through the town.
Rosso has a hot desert climate ( Köppen climate classification ''BWh''). Rosso has the highest annual rainfall in the country, at 300mm/yr, and is one of the market towns which serve the narrow strip of agricultural land stretching along the southern frontier of Mauritania. But even here the Sahara is encroaching. Major irrigation projects have been carried out on the northern bank of the Senegal River, financed by the United Arab Emirates, allowing an expansion in the production of
Satara Zone Housing project
A small library, set up by the local Catholic priest, has been functioning since 2005. A technology institute - ISET - was opened in 2009, offering courses in agriculture.
Rosso Town Hall
Mauritania
Mauritania (; ar, موريتانيا, ', french: Mauritanie; Berber: ''Agawej'' or ''Cengit''; Pulaar: ''Moritani''; Wolof: ''Gànnaar''; Soninke:), officially the Islamic Republic of Mauritania ( ar, الجمهورية الإسلامية ...
and capital of Trarza region. It is situated on the Senegal River
,french: Fleuve Sénégal)
, name_etymology =
, image = Senegal River Saint Louis.jpg
, image_size =
, image_caption = Fishermen on the bank of the Senegal River estuary at the outskirts of Saint-Louis, Senegal ...
at the head of the river zone allowing year-round navigation. The town is 204 km south of the capital Nouakchott. The Arabic name is Al-Quwarib.
History
Rosso was once the capital of the Emirate of Trarza, a Precolonial Sahrawi dominated state in Africa. Under French colonial rule Senegal and Mauritania were administered as a single entity. When independence came, the new frontier
was drawn along the Senegal River, thus splitting the small town of Rosso in two. This article refers to Mauritanian Rosso, on the northern bank of the river.
Originally a staging-post for the gum arabic trade, Rosso has grown rapidly since independence. From a population of a mere 2 300 in 1960 it has now overtaken Kaédi to become the 3rd largest city in the country with 48 922 inhabitants (2000 census).
Languages
Southwestern Mauritania is predominantly a Wolof-speaking area, but many members of Mauritania's other ethnic groups have moved to the town to escape the severe problems ofdesertification
Desertification is a type of land degradation in drylands in which biological productivity is lost due to natural processes or induced by human activities whereby fertile areas become increasingly arid. It is the spread of arid areas caused by ...
further north.
Economy
Rosso occupies a strategic position at the international ferry-crossing on the main road between Nouakchott and the Senegalese capital of Dakar. Economically the town has benefited, but its fortunes are very dependent on the state of relations between the two countries. From 1990 to 1992 the border crossing was closed, due to the Mauritania–Senegal Border War, and there have been repeated movements of refugees in both directions through the town.
Climate
Rosso has a hot desert climate ( Köppen climate classification ''BWh''). Rosso has the highest annual rainfall in the country, at 300mm/yr, and is one of the market towns which serve the narrow strip of agricultural land stretching along the southern frontier of Mauritania. But even here the Sahara is encroaching. Major irrigation projects have been carried out on the northern bank of the Senegal River, financed by the United Arab Emirates, allowing an expansion in the production of cash crop
A cash crop or profit crop is an Agriculture, agricultural crop which is grown to sell for profit. It is typically purchased by parties separate from a farm. The term is used to differentiate marketed crops from staple crop (or "subsistence crop") ...
s such as mint. In 2004 however up to 80% of crops were lost as a result of the infestation of locusts which affected the whole of the western Sahel
The Sahel (; ar, ساحل ' , "coast, shore") is a region in North Africa. It is defined as the ecoclimatic and biogeographic realm of transition between the Sahara to the north and the Sudanian savanna to the south. Having a hot semi-arid c ...
. This was followed by a severe drought. It was a bitter irony then that in August 2005 some 10,000 people were displaced by flooding.
Recreation
The city is near the Diawling National Park. Rosso is also known for the internationally renowneSatara Zone Housing project
A small library, set up by the local Catholic priest, has been functioning since 2005. A technology institute - ISET - was opened in 2009, offering courses in agriculture.
Politics
The current Mayor, Professor Yerim Fassa, a doctor, was elected in 2007. Rosso has been twinned with Moissy-Cramayel since 1986. From August 2007 through May 2009, Michael Auerbach - Regional Coordinator for the United States Peace Corps - resided in Rosso as he evaluated the efficacy of existing gender equality movements in the region. He was succeeded by Brandon Forester, the final Regional Coordinator for the United States Peace Corps Program until the closure of the program in 2010.External links
Rosso Town Hall
References
{{Communes of Mauritania Regional capitals in Mauritania History of Mauritania French West Africa Communes of Trarza Region Mauritania–Senegal border crossings