The Atlantic Road
 
From Nouakchott to South Morocco, 1500 kms across Mauritania and Western Sahara.  The wild Ocean and the relentless winds offer no respite to the travellers who face vast expanses of emptiness and moon-like landscapes.  Awesome.  In the middle the 3km wide ‘no man’s land’ between the borders of Morocco (Western Sahara) and Mauritania is a reminder of the very recent disputes over who should rule this desolated piece of land.  Fortunately, both country seem to agree that letting tourists through the border across a de-mined corridor is in everybody’s interest. But it is essential to stick to the main track for the last fatal explosion was only 2 months ago.
 
De Nouakchott jusqu’au Sud Marocain, 1500 kms a travers la Mauritanie et le Sahara Occidental.  L’ocean sauvage et les vents violents se marient a merveille avec les grands espaces arides et les paysages lunaires. Captivant.  Au milieu de tout ca, les 3 kms de ‘no man’s land’ entre la Mauritanie et le Maroc (Sahara Occidental) sont un rappel des disputes recentes concernant la souverainete de cette zone aride et quasiement inhabitee.   Heureusement, les adversaires ont reconnu qu’il etait dans l’interet de tous d’ouvrir la frontiere et de creer un etroit corridor demine. Mais attention, il ne faut pas s’ecarter du chemin; la derniere explosion fatale date d’il y a 2 mois seulement.
 
 
Nouakchott > South Morocco
Thursday, 3 May 2007