At the Oasis in the Sahara in Mauritania

Many people think Oasis in a desert look like a small lake in surrounded by palm trees. But it is much more than that. So here I am putting up some photos which show how most oasis in Sahara looks like. People who live in an oasis must manage land and water use carefully. Infect they do it so well, that a formal course and degree can be formulated for it. – MBA in Oasis Management. Agriculture around oasis is probably the best example of intensive form of agriculture. Now Oasis are formed from underground rivers or aquifers, where water can reach the surface naturally by pressure. The location of oasis has been of critical importance for trade and transportation routes in the Sahara. Caravans must travel via oasis so that supplies of water and food can be replenished. Thus, political or military control of an oasis has in many cases meant control of trade on a particular route. For example, the oases of Awjila, Ghadames, and Kufra, etc, have at various times been vital to both North-South and East-West trade in the Sahara Desert. The most important plant in an oasis is the date palm, which forms the upper layer. These palm trees protects the oasis from harsh desert winds and provide shade for smaller trees. By growing plants in different layers, the farmers make best use of the soil and water. Many vegetables are also grown and some cereals. Contrary to popular belief, desert soil is good for cultivation if water is made available, so in an oasis besides the dates a lot of other plants are cultivated. I have seen papaya and even some bananas being planted in the desert. The lands around the oasis are highly prized and protected. As you can see in the photos, small land holding are intensely cultivated. Also small ponds are dug by farmers to store water and some of them are able to access ground water also at times.

The Inconspicuous Church in Mauritania

This is the oldest church in Mauritania, in Nouadhibou. This was build by the French in about 1913, when the region was a French Colony. Since Nouadhibou was on border of French and Spanish colonies, this small church was build to cater to those foreign christens. Now this church is taken care by a Catholic Charitable Mission which help christen migrants who are in Nouadhibou, who come here in a hope to make it to Europe. In this Catholic Charitable Mission , I found three Indian Nuns. Two from kerela and one from Orrisa. They say that they cannot declare themselves as Christens, Nor can they say that they have a church. Mauritania is a 100% Muslim Country and it is illegal to follow or propagate any other religion. Mauritania is one of the 12 countries were Atheism is punishable by death. So this church does not look like any conventional church. Infect to me it looked like a Buddhist Stupa. The cross is made to look like three wooden poles, so as to not attract undue attention. Also this church is always closed. It is only opened for few hours on Sunday. The nuns here do some charitable work, trying to help those christens who have come from other African counties and got stuck up here in there hopes to reach the Cannery Islands.
Now Nouadhibou, a port that lies on its northern border with Western Sahara. It is the main departure point for migrants from across West Africa who board small fishing boats, or pirogues, in an attempt to travel the 800km to the Canary Islands. The use of pirogues from Nouadhibou become more intense in 2005. Previously, migrants had travelled through Morocco and Moroccan-controlled territory before attempting to cross the Straits of Gibraltar. With tighter border and internal controls in Morocco and Western Sahara, this became more difficult, and the Nouadhibou route emerged. Most who make the journey come from Senegal, Mali and Gambia. Between 40 and 50 people travel on boats built to carry four or five fisherman. Many die at sea from dehydration, exposure or because their boats sink in the treacherous seas. Some arrive in the Canaries and are processed by the Spanish, with most then returned to Mauritania. Others are intercepted by Mauritanian or Spanish patrols and are returned immediately. Some Migrants are eventually taken to either the Senegalese or Malian border. Many immediately return to try again. Despite this, migrants from across west Africa arrive daily, hoping to reach the Canaries. Citizens from most West African countries are permitted to travel freely in Mauritania, so they continue to stay in Nouadhibou. Those who realize how dangerous the journey is often find themselves in limbo, stranded in Nouadhibou. Many people who wait for their chance to make it to Europe or are have not succeeded, stay in Nouadhibou and take up jobs, mostly in its fishing industry. Despite heavy fishing by European trawlers, the waters off Nouadhibou remain some of the richest waters in Africa and has a flourishing fishing industry.

In search of Yellow Quartz in the Sahara

I went to the Sahara Desert in Chami District of Mauritania. There is a huge hydro-thermal quartz deposit and I was able to find nice yellow and red Quartz in large blocks. During this trip I stayed in this mobile caravan. The landscape was very unforgiving and we carried water and supplies for many days  

  But our trip was successful and we found colorful stones to add to my collection.
The mobile caravan we used was that of a Chinese company called Great Wall.