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Chegga

Coordinates: 25°22′23.89″N 5°47′14.12″W / 25.3733028°N 5.7872556°W / 25.3733028; -5.7872556
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Chegga
Cheggat
Chegga is located in Mauritania
Chegga
Chegga
Location in Mauritania
Coordinates: 25°22′23.89″N 5°47′14.12″W / 25.3733028°N 5.7872556°W / 25.3733028; -5.7872556
CountryMauritania
RegionTiris Zemmour
Elevation
400 m (1,200 ft)

Chegga is an abandoned fort in the very northeastern part of Mauritania, close to the borders with Algeria and Mali. It has been a caravan stop for centuries. There are neolithic rock carvings in the oued 500 metres away from the fort, near a water source.[1][2]

Chegga consists of a mosque and a military fort. It was built by the French Foreign Legion and taken over by the Army of Mauritania after independence.[1]

A view of artisanal mining near Chegga

In 2019, president Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, opened the surrounding military exclusion zone to prospecting on a limited basis, although technically foreigners can still be shot on sight. Chegga has since become a center of artisanal gold mining by Mauritanians and Malians using hand tools.[3]

An artisanal miner working in a mine near Chegga

References

  1. ^ a b "de Vries". Retrieved 2 December 2018. Hein and Wil de Vries' travel report
  2. ^ Puigaudeau, Odette du; Sénones, Marion (1939). "Gravures rupestres du Hank (Sahara Marocain)". Bulletin de la Société Préhistorique de France (in French). 36 (11). JSTOR 27912955.
  3. ^ McMakin, Wilson (7 July 2023). "Artisanal Miners on Shaky Ground in Mauritania". Inkstick. Retrieved 10 July 2023.