The Iron Train

The Iron Train is one of the longest trains in the world, at about 2.5 km. It travels between Nouadhibou and Zouerate in Mauritania, covering 652 km through the Sahara Desert in about 20 hours. Residents use the train to visit relatives or transport goods, including live animals. High temperatures during the day and low temperatures at night make the journey difficult. Dust blows from the wagons carrying iron ore from a mine 30 km from Zouerate to the cargo ships at the port of Nouadhibou.