Mauritania is a country in Africa with a population of 4,947,400. Mauritania, where the Sahara meets the Atlantic, is a land of shifting dunes, ancient caravan towns, and nomadic traditions. Mauritanians are proud of their poetry, hospitality, and the art of tea-making. Islam is the state religion, and daily life is shaped by prayer, mosque attendance, and the rhythms of the Islamic calendar. Spirituality is also reflected in oral storytelling and the preservation of ancient manuscripts.