Chegga
Cheggat | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 25°22′23.89″N 5°47′14.12″W / 25.3733028°N 5.7872556°W | |
Country | Mauritania |
Region | Tiris Zemmour |
Elevation | 400 m (1,200 ft) |
Population | |
• Total | 0 |
Time zone | UTC0 |
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]
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/20/Chegga_Artisanal_Mining.jpg/220px-Chegga_Artisanal_Mining.jpg)
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]
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/90/Mining_in_Chegga.jpg/220px-Mining_in_Chegga.jpg)
References
[edit]- ^ a b "de Vries". Retrieved 2 December 2018. Hein and Wil de Vries' travel report
- ^ 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.
- ^ McMakin, Wilson (7 July 2023). "Artisanal Miners on Shaky Ground in Mauritania". Inkstick. Retrieved 10 July 2023.