Name: Choum

Region: Adrar

Country: Mauritania

Continent: Africa

Population: approximately 3,000 inhabitants

Once a vital transit hub between caravan cities, Choum today is an almost abandoned town that has slipped almost entirely off Mauritania's tourism radar. And understandably so—there's little to do in the region. Yet the town is traversed by the railway connecting Nouadhibou to Zouerate, making it an inevitable stop for anyone traveling to either destination.

History

Choum is a desert town located near the border with Western Sahara. It stands on what was once a major caravan route across the Sahara. Even after the great caravans—those carrying gold from the Bambuk goldfields to Fès and Marrakech—disappeared, smaller commercial caravans continued to use this route until the 1950s. But from 1950 onward, the city gradually faded into obscurity. In 1977, it came under suspicion of harboring Polisario Front militias. The Mauritanian government then sought the assistance of French military forces. To drive these guerrillas from the territory, the French air force dispatched a bomber to strike the city.

Today

Situated at the crossroads between the Nouadhibou track to the west and the north-south Zouerate-Atar route, Choum still functions today as a resupply point for travelers passing through the region. Indeed, for a price, you can find almost anything you need—fuel, gas, and basic necessities like food and bottled water.

Apart from a few shopfronts painted in vivid colors, the town consists largely of raw earth brick buildings with flat roofs scattered across the desert. Home to some 3,000 souls, Choum is a substantial settlement that revolves mainly around the railway station. There is very little to do in town. The only animation comes when the train or trucks pass through and street vendors rush out to sell food.

Climate and Geography

Choum lies at the far north of Mauritania, near the railway line connecting the cities of Nouadhibou and Zouerate. It has a continental desert climate with extremely low rainfall, averaging just 12 mm annually.