Arguin

Arguin (Portuguese Arguim ) is an island off the coast of Mauritania. It is located south of Nouadhibou and is part of the Arguin sandbank.

In a diverse coastal landscape with sand dunes, mudflats, shallows, small islands and adjacent desert is an ideal wintering area for migratory birds. The fish-rich area with sea turtles and dolphins part of the National Park Banc d' Arguin

History

Portuguese discovery

The waters of the Bay Arguim were first traversed by Europeans, the Portuguese navigator and explorer Nuno Tristão on behalf of Henry the Navigator in 1441.

1443 located at Cape Blanc island was discovered by the Portuguese Nuno Gonçalo de Sintra or Tristão. Arab traders operated here a slave market, but also dealt in gold dust, ivory and other goods. Álvaro Fernandes, João Gonçalves Zarco 's nephew, explored in 1445, the island of Madeira accurate and built the first wooden palisades. This was taken on the island of the first permanent trading post by the Portuguese docked to the local shores. From there they developed their Africa trade, in which they penetrated deep into the Sahara. The Portuguese offered for slaves and gold dust mainly substances, horses and wheat. Between 1455 and 1461 a stone fort was a native of Èvora Soeiro Mendes, who later became governor of Arguim built. On 5 February 1633 the Dutch conquered the Portuguese Fort

Brandenburg colony

On October 5, 1685 succeeded the captain of the frigate kurbrandenburgischen " Rother lion ," Cornelius Reers, the coup- like occupation of the hitherto fiercely contested island of Arguin. Reers, who had to fend off Dutch and French attacks, taught the old Portuguese fort on the island restored. He managed to complete with the native king of Argien a contract in which these Brandenburg accepted as a protecting power. This treaty was ratified in 1687 and 1698 again renewed. Trading in the colony, which also included the opposite coast southeast of Cape Blanc, developed favorably. The island was at times a key transit point in the international rubber trade. However, the colony constant attacks of the Dutch, French and English has been exposed.

With the end of the Brandenburg-Prussian colonial ambitions came also the end for the colony Arguin. The French came a Dutch attack previously and attacked the fort at Arguin. Its crew under Captain January Wynen Bastiaens could not withstand the attack and gave up the fort on 9 March 1721 and retired fighting on the mainland back. Thus, the colony Arguin for Brandenburg / Prussia was lost.

Varying lordships

The French could only hold about a year but Arguin, then the island first came to the Netherlands. As of 1724, the French were again masters of the island, but this time their property was not long - from 1728 were then Mauritanian clan chiefs, the true rulers. Only in the early 20th century, the French colony of Mauritania became independent (as part of French West Africa), and with this 1960 Arguin part.