CityOutline guide

Choum

Commune and town in Adrar Region, Mauritania

Photo: NASA's Earth Observatory, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

Choum (pronounced shoom) is a tiny railway stop in the Adrar Region of Northern Mauritania 5 km (3 mi) from the straight-line demarcated border with the Western Sahara that runs due west-east at this point before turning south-north 12 km to the east.

Getting there and around

Getting there

By minibus
The road to Atar (c. 150km to the South) is paved; minibuses cost about 200 (new) ouguiyas per person.

Read in the guide

Airports and nearby hotels

Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.

Tazadit Airport

Zouérate · Regional · OUZ

Search stays near OUZ

Search flights

Read before you go to Choum

Articles and travel topics about Choum and Mauritania.

Itineraries

Iron Ore Train

The infamous Iron Ore Train, the longest and heaviest in the world, rumbles between Nouadhibou and Zouerat via Choum in Mauritania. You can ride it to get to...

Wikivoyage

Itineraries

Africa itineraries

Itineraries in Africa

Wikivoyage

Nature & adventure

UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves

As of 2023 the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves is made up of 738 reserves in 134 countries of which 22 are transboundary.

Wikivoyage

Culture & history

Roman Empire

The Roman Empire was the greatest ancient empire of Europe. At the height of its power in 117 AD, it ruled over considerable parts of Europe, as well as much of North Africa and the Middle East.

Wikivoyage

Full travel guide

Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.

UnderstandChoum has a passenger boarding opportunity for the iron ore train to the port of Nouadhibou. These ore trains are reputedly some of the heaviest (c.

Get inThe Iron Ore Train from Nouadhibou stops in Choum.

Get around

SeeThis is scorching and dusty grey-yellow-pink desert with very little to see, although some small-scale trenches, berms and firing positions are left over from the fighting with the Polisario Front.

DoVery little, other than catch the train.

BuyCoke and camping gaz from a few very small grocery shops.

EatFlies, since the Restaurant de l’amitie is a bumpy 4 hr 4x4 drive away in Atar.

DrinkA lot! Temperatures during the day are above 40°C in July and August and sometimes top 46°C.

SleepIn your sleeping bag. Bring a sleeping mat because there are a lot of small, sharp stones on the ground.

ConnectOutgoing international calls must go through the operator after you reach Nouadhibou at the end of the line.

Go next

Sources and licences

Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Choum" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Summary from the Wikipedia article "Choum", available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Wikipedia
Photo: NASA's Earth Observatory, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Improve this guide on Wikivoyage