mauritania iron ore train map

Some men take this opportunity to jump out, relieve themselves and race back before the train speeds up again. That visceral experience was exactly what we got as we slithered night and day through the vast uninhabited desert, sleeping on top of Mauritania's infamous iron ore train. Looking for people to join me on Iron Ore Train Sep 24, 2022; Entry requirement Sep 20, 2022; Group or solo tours Sep 12, 2022; Looking for a partner to ride the Iron Ore Train Sep 09, 2022; Mauritanian currency Aug 01, 2022; Mauritania - internet speed experience Jul 30, 2022; Iron Ore train from Nouadhibou to Zourat Jul 21, 2022; Want a . They consist of 3 or 4 diesel-electric EMD locomotives, 200 to 210 cars each carrying up to 84 tons of iron ore, and 2-3 service cars. At night, however, its a different story. Hi Margarida, its not about the age, but how you feel phisically. Imagine a European rail carriage from the 1970s, stripped of everything of any value: doors, glass, seats, cushioning, lights, toilet bowl, wrote Hugh Carveth. What year is it in North Korea? Remote Work Hi David! Inspiration Passengers include locals, merchants, and occasionally some adventure tourists. We chatted about the purpose of my visit, and he never managed to assimilate why the hell I wanted to ride the train with all the dust, when I supposedly could pay the 15 cost of getting into the passenger wagon, a significant amount many Mauritanians cant. On the Move in Mauritania: The Iron Ore Express. Amongst other things Mauritania is home to the longest train in the world, a Goliath chain of massive heavy bread tins on wheels, lined up for miles on a single track that pokes up through the sand. Operating since 1963, the Iron Ore Train - Train du Desert in Mauritania - is a train that connects the iron ore mines in the town of Zourat, located deep into the Sahara, with the port of Nouadhibou, located on the Atlantic coast. Did you know that in Costa Rica, in the area of Manuel Antonio, theres a restaurant built around an old CIA spy plane. Take that skeleton of a train carriage, and add a layer of dust covering every surface. The Mauritania train is the longest train in the world at 2,500m. Click to reveal Big smiles, offers of local tea, wide-eyed smiles and genuine interest in where youre from. Play Video . The Mauritania Railway is the national railway of Mauritania. Theres also no control or checking whatsoever. From Atar, you can catch a direct bus to Zourat (4 hours) which also stops in Choum. When it passes through towns it slows down allowing passengers to disembark and others to hop aboard. Coron We arrived in Nouadhibou at 7:30am, shortly after sunrise, so if you had taken the train in Choum on that day, you would have only gotten 10 minutes of sunlight. The train stops a few kilometers outside of Nouadhibou, in the middle of nowhere, where several taxis will be waiting for the passengers. In Zourat, I had a full meal before getting in. Passengers are also occasionally transported by train; these services are managed by an SNIM subsidiary, the socit d'Assainissement, de Travaux, de Transport et de Maintenance (abb. Located deep in the Sahara Desert in Mauritania is one of the largest iron ore mines in the world. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Trip dates: Jan 25th - Feb 1st 2023. Total project costs . To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. north korea I am sure it was the hardest adventure, but you have best memories forever! Once we arrive in Choum we will wait to board the incredible Iron Ore train. When I returned from Mauritania, many were surprised not by the train journey itself but how I even discovered the existence of such a tourist attraction. Construction of the line began in 1960, with it opening in 1963. For locals, the iron ore train is a commuter rail; for foreigners, it's the ride of a lifetime. Their journey extends between Zouerat - the largest town in the country's north, known for its iron. During the day, from Zourat to Choum, it was delightful and at night, with a good jacket and sleeping bag, I never felt any cold. Required fields are marked *. The open-air top provides no respite from the scorching heat of the day and the frigid air of the night. What a cool experience! Those who are interested, Washington Post published a nice photo essay on the journey a few years back. Search for Mauritania free images. I am not really interested in spending the whole night on iron ore The main question is, will there be some cars waiting for picking up passengers at Choum train station to Atar when the train arrive from Zourat? Join GLT in the adventurous Mauritania! The train arrives and you jump on, thats it. In 2014, the mining company Glencore paid $1 billion for 18 years of access to SNIM's rail and port infrastructure, which would be connected to branch lines to new iron mines at Askaf and Guelb El Aouj. Hi Joan, thanks for sharing such a wonderful experience! Check out more of our fun country facts here, 13 Reasons to Visit Acapulco in 2023 (and Is It Safe? . It is a good place to meet mostly french tourists and expats there. . Each wagon carries up to 84 tons of iron ore, making the train one of the heaviest and longest in the world. Camille. What makes is notable apart from its obvious length is that although a cargo train it is used by the locals, or anyone for that matter, to travel on . This time the wagons are empty, which makes the outbound journey slightly more bearable. Here you'll visit the incredibly historic library and have a close encounter with ancient architecture. Looking for people to join me on Iron Ore Train 24 September 2022; Entry requirement 20 September 2022; Group or solo tours 12 September 2022; Looking for a partner to ride the Iron Ore Train 09 September 2022; Mauritanian currency 01 August 2022; Mauritania - internet speed experience 30 July 2022; Iron Ore train from Nouadhibou to Zourat 21 . Feb 8th to 15th (2023). Your IP: The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. At night, I set up my sleeping bag in a corner and managed to feel cozy at some point. You mentioned the iron ore as toxic. Yet, Zourats only connection to the city of Nouadhibou, the countrys only major shipping port on the Atlantic coast, is via a railway. Thanks so much for these posts. How do you go to the bathroom, especially women. How about this topic, how would European female travellers be seen in the context of the culture and possible traditional gender roles of that country? The office is where shared taxis to the station depart from. At one million square kilometers, Mauritania is not a small country, but a very small percentage of it is habitable. Iron Ore Train In The Sahara, Mauritania; Eye Of The Desert Geological Structure Of Rishat, Satellite Image, Beauty Of The Desert; . Imports In 2020, Mauritania imported $1.65M in Iron Ore, becoming the 61st largest importer of Iron Ore in the world. In any case, that man helped me a lot. Ride the infamous Iron Ore Train across the Mauritanian desert with 15 other daredevil adventure travelers. Cloudflare is currently unable to resolve your requested domain (www.atlasobscura.com). It consists of a single, 704-kilometre (437 mi) railway line linking the iron mining centre of Zouerate with the port of Nouadhibou, via Fderik and Following Mauritania's annexation of southern Western Sahara in 1976, the. Or I have to spend one night in Choum? During the last five reported years the exports of Mauritania have changed by $616M from $3.08B in 2015 to $3.7B in 2020. Thank you again for all the infos David! [11][12], Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Mauritania, a Nation of Moorish Nomads, Suddenly Finds Herself in 20th Century", http://www.attm.mr/index.php/entreprise/presentation, "Desert train of Mauritania running again after 10 years", "Railway Gazette: High temperature locomotives ordered from EMD", http://www.railpage.com.au/f-t11332401.htm, "Glencore abandons Mauritania iron ore project after $US1bn investment", This Sahara Railway Is One of the Most Extreme in the World, Hot, free and dangerous: A train ride in Mauritania, Atop a long train in Africa, heading for change. All of our fun facts are from the Around the World in 800 Facts series, by Jordan Simons. Hi Sam, just book your hotel in Nouakchott. First, a few facts: Operating since 1963, the iron ore train covers 437 miles (704 kilometers) on its journey across the Sahara Desert from Nouadhibou, on the coast, to Zourat, an iron. 1 10/12/2022 Arrival into Nouakchott. Twice daily over two hundred connected cars - a distance of nearly three kilometers - rumble along the tracks between the port city of Nouadhibou and the inland iron ore mines of Zouerate. Thanks! It was shortly before independence, in 1960, when . The railway is a lifeline for one of the world's poorest and most sparsely populated countries . Do you want to travel to Mauritania with Against the Compass?Join our Mauritania Expedition: Feb 8th to 15thIt includes riding the Iron Ore TrainCLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE. There are at least 4 of these trains running on 2 tracks covering 437 miles (704 kilometers) on its journey across the Sahara Desert from Nouadhibou, on the coast, to Zourat, an iron mine in the center of Mauritania. This is where you'll board the famed Mauritania Iron Ore Train and ride in open carriages through the Saharan desert. He is also the author of Against the Compass, an alternative travel blog, quite different from the rest, which aims at HELPING and INSPIRING you to do the same, always in a responsible way, with no rush, showing you the human side of the story and, above all, in a safe manner. The train is up to 3km (1.8 miles) in length with over 200 freight carriages, carrying up to 84 tons of iron ore. No, thanks, I want to ride on top of the wagons. One thing that you may not think about but is an important element of your packing list for the iron ore train in Mauritania is a thick facemask to go under your headscarf. Did You Know In 2020, Mauritania exported a total of $3.7B, making it the number 125 exporter in the world. Opened in 1963, it consists of a single, 704-kilometre (437 mi) railway line linking the iron mining centre of Zouerate with the port of Nouadhibou, via Fderik and Choum. Over the decades as the industry evolved, many new iron ore deposits were discovered in the region and half a dozen or so communities sprang up along the railway tracks. Its complicated, especially because your hands will become dirty as soon as you get in, so I recommend bringing only food that can be eaten without touching, like bananas or a sandwich wrapped in aluminum foil, for example. Digital Nomads My daughters have been living in Barcelona for many years now, and I go there quite often he said. Exporting this mineral has become one of the basic pillars of the impoverished Mauritanian economy, and the train journey is an essential part of the process. Ecommerce Mauritania Train Map How to Ride the Mauritania Iron Ore train through the Sahara Step 1: First you need to get to Choum (including a google map) Riding the Iron Ore Train In Mauritania; My Experience GETTING FROM NOUAKACHOTT TO ATAR, TO CHOUM THE TRAIN FINALLY ARRIVES! This railway, the only one in the country, serves as the lifeline for one of the worlds poorest nations, hauling iron ore from the mines at Zourat to the port city of Nouadhibou to be shipped to China and Japan, as well as to Switzerland, Spain, France, Italy and Germany. On March 26 1974, two trains were used to clear the bunkers at Tyne Dock, the first, at 10:45 was pulled by 24106 & 24110 whilst the second, due to run at 12:00 but delayed until 14:00 was pulled by 24109 & 24103. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); My name is Jordan Simons and over the past few years I've learned how to travel the world continuously.Now I want to show you how to do the same. I think the worst part of the journey is not being able to sleep for the entire night but otherwise, the iron ore is soft. From that point, I was all by myself, alone in the middle of nowhere, until the Train du Desert finally came, 200 wagons pulled by an EMD electric-diesel locomotive with an Arabic acronym that said SNIM (Socit Nationale Industrielle et Minire) written on its side. This area of 600km alongside the borders of Mauritania and the Polisario Western Sahara, actually, looks like from another planet. Croatian newlyweds Kristijan and Andrea Ilicic hopped a freight train carrying wagons of dirty iron ore across the baking hot deserts of Mauritania in northwest Africa to celebrate their marriage. There's no conductor, no tickets, no CR, no rooms, no charging station, no fixed schedule - challenging to imagine, right? Also, for those wondering, Mauritania is indeed perfectly safe as long as you stay out of red zones. Digital Nomad Stowaways climb on top of Mauritania's fabled iron ore train in the town of Choum, November 14, 2006. Day 6 - Noaudhibou- Noaukchott Morning An early rise for breakfast and the long drive to the Mauritanian capital city of Nouakchott Afternoon Hi Joan, do you have any recommendations for women travelling there, although you are male and it might be hard to imagine how your travel would have been if you would be a female in relation to the interaction with local men (did you also interact with local women?) This adventure is as spectacular as arduous because, while everything you experience and see during daylight is a real blessing to your eyeballs, the night becomes tough and exhausting. Wise enables you to send money across the world, without international transaction fees or outrageous exchange rates. Apparently, 1 out of 20 times, the train doesnt stop in Choum but it goes straight to Nouadhibou. 2020 operational and financial results. With a population close to fifty thousand, Zourat is not a small town either. I did this in August 2021, I was 19. Some of the links in my content may be affiliate links. Iron Ore Train. Our turnover thus rose from $ 880 million in 2019 to $ 1 billion 220 million in 2020, an increase of 39%. Required fields are marked *. The aim of the train is to transport thousands of tonnes of iron ore, distributed in more than 200 wagons, making it become the longest and heaviest train in the world, at 2.5km long, although it can be up to 3km, depending on the loading. Ive always wanted to do this! Every day, vast amounts of Iron Ore from the country's desert mines deep in the Sahara, are taken out to the ports so it can be shipped abroad. In fact, he was friends with the Railway Company director who, by the way, also spoke fluent Spanish, and it was he who took me in his car to the actual station, located 20km from Zourat, not without first filling our bellies in a restaurant whose owner had lived in the Canary Islands for more than 20 years. You can definitely stop in Choum no problem. So a quick tip, this activity is best suitable for adventurous people. There is also a restaurant at the same place called Nakhletein. The project involves the expansion of the operations of the Socit Nationale Industrielle et Minire ("SNIM") at its Guelb el Rhein iron ore mine located 25 km North-East of Zourate in Northern Mauritania, and related processing and transportation activities. The official departing time from Zourat is 11am but I was told that it has never departed before 12-12:30pm and, unofficially, they say the train can leave at any time between 12pm and 6pm, or even later. The train makes its way out through the distant Sahara, fills up with iron ore, and returns the next day. That's why a railway line was built from a mine near Zouerat to the coastal town of Nouadhibou, where the iron ore is shipped to the world This is Mauritania, and having an extra load of patience is a must. All Rights Reserved. Mauritania is one of theleast visited countries in the world, home to ancient Muslim cities, nomadic tribes, epic Sahara sand dunes, and of course the Iron Ore train. The ore dust gets into every orifice in the body, and penetrates the clothing until everything is stained a rusty red hue. The dust gets everywhere, Special camera plastics to protect your lens, Several liters of water, more than you can drink. If you dont feel like taking such a wild journey, there is the option of traveling in the actual passenger wagon, even though some intrepid travelers may tell you its not that worth it. Passengers board the train in Nouadibhou, Mauritania. This is the most enjoyable reading I have had in a long while. The mining of iron ore is one of the most important industries in Mauritania. Well if you end up planning it, let me know! They consist of 3 or 4 diesel-electric EMD locomotives, 200 to 210 cars each carrying up to 84 tons of iron ore, and 2-3 service cars. This allowed us to check our progress and know when to disembark. Ride the infamous Iron Ore Train across the Mauritanian desert with 15 other daredevil adventure travelers.One of the best trips Ive ever been on, this is the type ofraw adventure travelthat youll remember for the rest of your life. A simplified look on the 700-km long iron ore train route and Mauritania But hidden away underneath the sand, away from the public in a remote corner and military zone, lay crazy amounts of precious iron ore deposits. The line was a success and provided a major portion of Mauritania's GDP; as a result the line was nationalised in 1974. Your Stories I expected the inhospitality of the environment to make the whole trip quite hard (poor country + Sahara desert in August), and basically wanted to do a badass adventure just for the sake of it. Nevertheless, I guarantee you that, despite a 20-hour journey in which I barely slept, ate, and ended up covered in dark, toxic dust, I got off the train with a huge smile from ear to ear. So only fly late that night, or the next day. I arrived in Choum at 4am. I am thinking to go to Mauritania or to Iraq.I know they are completing different destinations, but what is your recommendation ? The only iron ore that remains is the dust which is bad but not nearly as horrible as you might think. Please note we drive back from Nouadihbou on the morning of Sunday 3rd, so we won't reach Nouakchott until the afternoon. The train departs from Zourat mines but the actual station is in a small settlement named Fderik, 24km from Zourat towards Choum. It all sounds like some adventure I would like to try. I did it all by myself. Thanks! Here is a map of the Iron Ore train's route: Where is Mauritania? Towns and settlements are separated by vast stretches of inhospitable desert. Read More 9 Facts About North Korea (That You Havent Heard Before)Continue. This allowed us to check our progress and know when to disembark. The journey is long and miserable. Jan 29 - Feb 5, 2023. A couple of passenger cars are also pulled along, but many prefer to hop into the wagons instead atop the pile of iron ore, trading comfort for a free ride. Mine left around 3pm. The initial idea was to jump in one of the first wagons but, apparently, I was at the place where the tail of the train would stop. Really cool Joan! Mauritania. Mauritania Tour Dates and Pricing. Indonesia 9 Facts About North Korea (That You Havent Heard Before). Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. The Point Noire-Brazzeville train through Congo is on my list too. About cars going to Atar, I am not entirely sure, but unless you are at the end of the train, where the passenger car is, I dont think youll find any because cars will be gone by the time you arrive there (its a long train!). However, the station isnt very far from the town and if its not too late, you may find cars going to Atar. After the train in India I have found one with even less service, comfort and punctuality: The Iron Ore Train in Mauritania. Mauritania Round 2. Here is a map of the Iron Ore trains route: Mauritania is a country in West Africa. This would be the perfect adventure. The Mauritanian rail network is a single 435 miles long line that connects the Fderik iron mine to Nouadhibou harbor since 1963. Otherwise the police will waste your time, like they made me waste mine. The Iron Ore Train departs every single day of the year, with absolutely no exception. It was they who informed me that, if I wanted to ride on the first wagons, I had to go more than 2km further, but they were actually kind enough to take me there. SNIM is 78.35% owned by the Government of Mauritania. Read More Costa Ricas CIA Spy Plane RestaurantContinue, Your email address will not be published. Yes, you can, but I dont recommend it for two reasons: Most travelers catch the train in Choum, for the simple reason that its closer to Nouadhibou, hence they cut the journey a few hours short. Some engineers invited me into one of the locomotives, where they gave me a small tour around the tiny compartment, while they also prepared some Mauritanian tea, which we all drank together later. You've requested a page on a website (www.atlasobscura.com) that is on the Cloudflare network. Mysterious, impoverished and constantly news-worthy. For more information about the country, dont forget to check my travel guide to Mauritania, Insurance for traveling in MauritaniaI strongly recommend IATI Insurance: COVID-19 + full Mauritania coverageBUY IT HERE TO GET YOUR SPECIAL DISCOUNT. The train ride is a minimum of 12 hours long which is an extremely long time to be inhaling iron ore dust. Its one of the most off the beaten path destinations and COVID cases are relatively low. The tourist route is typically operated by a locomotive carrying two passenger carriages. Full details here - https://www.travelcontinuously.com/mauritania-trip/Join me in January to travel through Mauritania and hitchhike the infamous Iron Ore tr. Girls LOVE Travel is ecstatic to work alongside Mudita Adventures to bring you a bucket-list trip to Mauritania, featuring the infamous Iron Ore train ride across the Sahara desert!. In one of the world's least visited countries, Mauritania. I went to the desert for adventure and I found it. I highly recommend to go there. This year Im running an Iron Ore Train tour to Mauritania. Conditions for these passengers are incredibly harsh with daytime temperatures exceeding 40C and death from falls being common. The problem, however, was that it was a 2.5km long train that stopped in the middle of the desert, in a particularly inhospitable place with no signposts and markers, and walking along it with all my luggage, plus the several liters of water needed for the 20-hour trip across the desert wasnt a very appealing idea. The Mauritania Railway is the national railway of Mauritania. Measuring at up to 3 kilometers long (1.9 miles), trains that run on this 700-kilometer (435-mile) Prior to this the railway had operated US-built EMD SDL40-2s, also with special modifications to deal with operating in dusty and high temperature environments, which themselves were the replacement for twenty-one MIFERNA Class CC locomotives which had been custom-made in France to operate in the same rough conditions. Youtube. I barely slept, but felt comfortable. Its a strange adventure, kind of masochist, but it has become one of my best experiences ever, and the ultimate adventure that all intrepid travelers should experience once in their life. Seems like you have to get well wrapped around and protected, is it? That means that if you purchase a product or service that I recommend, I get a small commission. North Korea has their own Basketball rules. However, if there is any reason to come to Nouadhibou, it is to ride on the iron ore train. The rest is covered by the sands of the Sahara. [citation needed]. You can't see it, but somewhere in the approaching sand cloud is one of the longest trains in the world: It's one-and-a-half miles (2.5 km) long. Thanks again for your continued support. Oriol Lpez. I did bring a sandwich and ate it during the 10 minutes that we stopped in Choum. For example, in my case, the train departed Zourat at 3pm, arriving in Choum at 7:15pm, when it was already dark. Iron Ore Train Travel Guide.arly as possible (we did it at dusk and while the train was moving, which was intense). Theres much more history, geographical diversity and I just prefer the Middle East over the Maghreb. The train stretches for 2.5 kilometers. The Iron Ore: From Nouadhibou to Choum the train is empty. As long as you wear warm clothes, enough water, cover up your face and dont balance on the edge of the wagon unnecessarily, it should not be dangerous, not at all.

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