Atar, Mauritania

Atar is a city in northwestern Mauritania. It is the capital of the region of Adrar and the main settlement area of the Adrar Plateau. It has a small airport, a museum and a historic mosque, which was built in 1674. While the city is located in the arid Sahara Desert, it was discovered near a significant amount of groundwater. The discovery was by a Russian scientist who analyzed the satellite using topography. The discovery, according to estimates, could supply a population of 50,000 inhabitants with water. The city is known as the tourist gateway to the ancient cities of Ouadane, Chinguetti and Aoujeft, all declared World Heritage Site by Unesco.