thumb|right|Oblique view of Adrar Plateau from [[Apollo 9]]

The Adrar (, Berber for "mountain"

Geography

The Adrar is an arid plateau, known for its gorges, regs (stony deserts) and sand dunes. Structurally the Adrar is a low central massif which rises to over above sea level, just east of Atar near the Amojjar Pass on the track to Chinguetti, then loses elevation and becomes subsumed by dunes to the south and east. Limited cultivation is only possible in the gorges at lower elevations such as Oued Seguellil, where the water table is high enough to support large palm groves.

History

The Adrar was settled in the Neolithic era as shown by cave and rock paintings found in the area such as the Agrour Amogjar. The more recent aridification has left much of the archaeology intact, most notable several stone circles, e.g. Atar Stone Circle, and the later town of Azougui.

Features of the Adrar

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File:Adrar-Henné.jpg|Henna design on the hand of a girl of the region

File:Adrar sands.JPG|A sandy area west of Chinguetti

File:Adrar-Scarecrows.JPG|A stone cairn

File:Adrar-Coloquintes.jpg|Colocynths in the Adrar desert

File:Adrar (17).jpg|A postbox in the airport of Atar, the Adrar's main town

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See also

  • Geography of Mauritania

References

  • UNESCO: "Ancient Ksour of Ouadane, Chinguetti, Tichitt and Oualata"
  • The Adrar - Lonely Planet
  • Map of the Adrar - Bab Sahara