In the 14th and 15th centuries, fishing activities carried out from the nearby Canary Islands, by Spanish fishermen, inspired Spain to develop an interest in the desert coast of what is today called Western Sahara.[citation needed]
Cabo Blanco, in the Atlantic Ocean, is the only place in the world where Mediterranean monk seals form a true colony.[citation needed] In 1997, two-thirds of the colony died off, but there has been gradual recovery since.[1]
Although it is not the westernmost point of Africa, due to the Earth's curvature it is significantly more northern despite a similar longitude than Cap-Vert, the actual westernmost point of the mainland continent, meaning that the peninsula actually is the westernmost solar point – the last place in Africa where the sun sets.[2]
This thin stretch of land is divided between Mauritania and Western Sahara. On the western side lies the ghost town of La Güera; on the eastern side, less than 1 mile (1.6 km) from the border, lies Mauritania's Nouadhibou (formerly Port Etienne).
History
Portuguese sailing explorers first reached the location they called Cabo Branco in 1441. The Spanish interest in Western Africa, in the desert coast of the Sahara, resulted from fishing activities carried out from the Canary Islands by Spanish fishermen, who also hunted and traded seal. The Spanish fished and whaled off the Sahara coast from Dakhla to Ras Nouadhibou from 1500 to the present, ranging from whaling humpback whales and likely North Atlantic right whales[3] and whale calves, mostly in Cape Verde, the Guinea gulf in Annobón, and the São Tomé and Príncipe islands. These fishing activities have had a negative impact on wildlife and caused the disappearance or endangerment of many species of marine mammals and birds.[4][5]
The Spanish originally claimed the land from 20° 51' N (near Cap Blanc) to 26° 8' N (near Cape Bojador) in 1885. This protectorate was governed from the Canary Islands in 1887. France would later claim the Western Sahara. At a joint convention held in 1900, the French and Spanish settled the boundary, dividing the area between Spanish Sahara and French West Africa.[6] Today, the same border separates Western Sahara from Mauritania. However, the western side is currently policed by Mauritania, as neither Morocco nor the Polisario Front occupies the area.
The Mediterranean monk seal's (Monachus monachus) former range extended throughout the Northwest Atlantic Africa, Mediterranean and Black Sea, coastlines, including all offshore islands of the Mediterranean, and into the Atlantic and its islands: Canary, Madeira, Ilhas Desertas, Porto Santo, as far west as the Azores. Vagrants could be found as far south as Gambia and the Cape Verde islands, and as far north as continental Portugal and Atlantic France.[7] Today, the cape hosts the largest surviving single population of the species, and the only remaining site which still seems to preserve a colony structure.[7] In the summer of 1997, two-thirds of its seal population were wiped out within two months, extremely compromising the species' viable population. While opinions on the precise causes of this epidemic remain divided (the most likely cause being a morbilivirus or, more likely, a toxic algae bloom,[7]) the mass die-off emphasized the precarious status of a species already regarded as critically endangered throughout its range.
While still far below the early 1997 count, numbers in this all-important location have started a slow-paced recovery ever since. Currently, the population in this location is estimated at 270 individuals,[8] down from some 310 in 1997, but still the largest single colony by far. The threat of a similar incident that could wipe out the entire population remains.[9]
Captain James Riley's captivity memoir, Sufferings in Africa (1815), recounts his and his men's experiences after beaching their ship at what is thought to be Cabo Blanco.
Robert Adams's Narrative recounts a similar experience.
^Forcada, J., Hammond, P.S. & Aguilar, A. (November 1999). "Status of the Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus in the western Sahara and the implications of a mass mortality event". Marine Ecology Progress Series. 188: 249–261. Bibcode:1999MEPS..188..249F. doi:10.3354/meps188249.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^Vera, Eloy (22 December 2016). "La colonia de focas monje de Mauritania se ha triplicado desde su crisis de 1917". EFE Verde (in Spanish). from the original on 2017-12-13. Retrieved 2017-01-08.
^Johnson M.W.; Karamanlidis A.A.; Dendrinos P.; Larrinoa D.F.P.; Gazo M.; González M.L.; Güçlüsoy H.; Pires R.; Schnellmann M., Mediterranean Monk Seal Fact Sheet, The Monachus Guardian, from the original on 2019-09-12, retrieved 2014-12-19
February 24, 2023
nouadhibou, cabo, blanco, africa, redirects, here, other, meanings, cabo, blanco, blanc, arabic, رأس, نواذيبو, kilometre, peninsula, headland, divided, border, between, mauritania, western, sahara, african, coast, atlantic, ocean, internationally, known, cabo,. Cabo Blanco Africa redirects here For other meanings see Cabo Blanco and Cap Blanc Ras Nouadhibou Arabic رأس نواذيبو is a 60 kilometre 37 mi peninsula or headland divided by the border between Mauritania and Western Sahara on the African coast of the Atlantic Ocean It is internationally known as Cabo Blanco in Spanish or Cap Blanc in French both meaning White Headland Ras NouadhibouNative name Ras Nouadhibouرأس نواذيبو Cabo BlancoCap Blanc1958 map showing what was then called Cap Blanc divided between Spain and FranceRas NouadhibouGeographyLocationAfricaCoordinates20 46 17 N 17 2 50 W 20 77139 N 17 04722 W 20 77139 17 04722 Coordinates 20 46 17 N 17 2 50 W 20 77139 N 17 04722 W 20 77139 17 04722Adjacent toAtlantic OceanDakhlet NouadhibouLength60 km 37 mi Width12 km 7 5 mi AdministrationMauritania and Western SaharaIn the 14th and 15th centuries fishing activities carried out from the nearby Canary Islands by Spanish fishermen inspired Spain to develop an interest in the desert coast of what is today called Western Sahara citation needed Cabo Blanco in the Atlantic Ocean is the only place in the world where Mediterranean monk seals form a true colony citation needed In 1997 two thirds of the colony died off but there has been gradual recovery since 1 Although it is not the westernmost point of Africa due to the Earth s curvature it is significantly more northern despite a similar longitude than Cap Vert the actual westernmost point of the mainland continent meaning that the peninsula actually is the westernmost solar point the last place in Africa where the sun sets 2 Contents 1 Geography 2 History 3 Monk seals 4 In literature 5 ReferencesGeography EditThe headland forms the western limit of Dakhlet Nouadhibou Bay citation needed This thin stretch of land is divided between Mauritania and Western Sahara On the western side lies the ghost town of La Guera on the eastern side less than 1 mile 1 6 km from the border lies Mauritania s Nouadhibou formerly Port Etienne History EditPortuguese sailing explorers first reached the location they called Cabo Branco in 1441 The Spanish interest in Western Africa in the desert coast of the Sahara resulted from fishing activities carried out from the Canary Islands by Spanish fishermen who also hunted and traded seal The Spanish fished and whaled off the Sahara coast from Dakhla to Ras Nouadhibou from 1500 to the present ranging from whaling humpback whales and likely North Atlantic right whales 3 and whale calves mostly in Cape Verde the Guinea gulf in Annobon and the Sao Tome and Principe islands These fishing activities have had a negative impact on wildlife and caused the disappearance or endangerment of many species of marine mammals and birds 4 5 The Spanish originally claimed the land from 20 51 N near Cap Blanc to 26 8 N near Cape Bojador in 1885 This protectorate was governed from the Canary Islands in 1887 France would later claim the Western Sahara At a joint convention held in 1900 the French and Spanish settled the boundary dividing the area between Spanish Sahara and French West Africa 6 Today the same border separates Western Sahara from Mauritania However the western side is currently policed by Mauritania as neither Morocco nor the Polisario Front occupies the area A lighthouse was constructed on the cape in 1910 citation needed Monk seals Edit A monk seal colony on Ras Nouadhibou in 1945 A seal swims at Ras Nouadhibou The Mediterranean monk seal s Monachus monachus former range extended throughout the Northwest Atlantic Africa Mediterranean and Black Sea coastlines including all offshore islands of the Mediterranean and into the Atlantic and its islands Canary Madeira Ilhas Desertas Porto Santo as far west as the Azores Vagrants could be found as far south as Gambia and the Cape Verde islands and as far north as continental Portugal and Atlantic France 7 Today the cape hosts the largest surviving single population of the species and the only remaining site which still seems to preserve a colony structure 7 In the summer of 1997 two thirds of its seal population were wiped out within two months extremely compromising the species viable population While opinions on the precise causes of this epidemic remain divided the most likely cause being a morbilivirus or more likely a toxic algae bloom 7 the mass die off emphasized the precarious status of a species already regarded as critically endangered throughout its range While still far below the early 1997 count numbers in this all important location have started a slow paced recovery ever since Currently the population in this location is estimated at 270 individuals 8 down from some 310 in 1997 but still the largest single colony by far The threat of a similar incident that could wipe out the entire population remains 9 In literature EditThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed January 2020 Learn how and when to remove this template message Captain James Riley s captivity memoir Sufferings in Africa 1815 recounts his and his men s experiences after beaching their ship at what is thought to be Cabo Blanco Robert Adams s Narrative recounts a similar experience The Pharaon from The Count of Monte Cristo sinks between here and Cape Bojador Cape Blanco is mentioned briefly in the novel Moby Dick Also referenced in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle s short story J Habakuk Jephson s Statement References Edit Forcada J Hammond P S amp Aguilar A November 1999 Status of the Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus in the western Sahara and the implications of a mass mortality event Marine Ecology Progress Series 188 249 261 Bibcode 1999MEPS 188 249F doi 10 3354 meps188249 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link https www usc gal fagms Publicaciones 2018 CaGIS publicado 2018 pdf Duke University 2008 Spatial Ecology of the North Atlantic Right Whale Eubalaena Glacialis book ISBN 9780549492252 Retrieved 2017 03 23 FIS Noticias en Breve EN BREVE la flota de arrastre del Golfo de Cadiz vuelve este martes a faenar tras 45 dias de parada biologica Archived from the original on 2020 05 28 Retrieved 2012 03 24 Archived copy PDF Archived PDF from the original on 2020 09 27 Retrieved 2012 03 24 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link International Boundary Study Algeria Western Sahara 1968 Archived 2012 02 18 at the Wayback Machine a b c Monachus monachus Mediterranean Monk Seal IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Retrieved 30 December 2012 old form url Vera Eloy 22 December 2016 La colonia de focas monje de Mauritania se ha triplicado desde su crisis de 1917 EFE Verde in Spanish Archived from the original on 2017 12 13 Retrieved 2017 01 08 Johnson M W Karamanlidis A A Dendrinos P Larrinoa D F P Gazo M Gonzalez M L Guclusoy H Pires R Schnellmann M Mediterranean Monk Seal Fact Sheet The Monachus Guardian archived from the original on 2019 09 12 retrieved 2014 12 19 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ras Nouadhibou amp oldid 1135434779, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
