Ouadane

20.883333333333 - 11.633333333333Koordinaten: 20 ° 53 'N, 11 ° 38 ' W

Ouadane (Arabic وادان, WADAN DMG ) is a historically important city in the region of Adrar in northwestern Mauritania on the Adrar Plateau.

The city is located 130 kilometers northeast of Chinguetti the end of a well-developed slopes. After Atar just 190 kilometers on the same street at first. A dirt road leads 30 km to the northeast continue to Guelb he Richat, a huge circular, crater-like formations.

Ouadane was founded in 1147 by the Berber tribe of the Idalwa El -Hadji and soon became one of the most important Karawanserein and business offices of the Western Sahara. Mainly exchanged the gold traders from the Sudan zone against dates and salt from the northern desert. A Portuguese trading post was built in 1487, but declined in the 16th century gradually the importance of the city. To economic decline and decay wore in the 18th century raids of Moroccan -Berber Saadian and the ruling Arab Alawites in, as well as the shift of the trans-Saharan trade routes to the East.

The well-preserved ruins of the fortified trading post ( Ksar) extend over a hill, whose slope into the plane of the oasis gardens. They are together since 1996 with Chinguetti, Tichitt and Oualata a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The small modern settlement lies outside the gates of the old city. In the census of 2000 3695 residents were given. There are several accommodations. Upon entering the old town an entry fee is required.