A country in North-West Africa. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on the west, by Senegal on the southwest, by Mali on the east and southeast, by Algeria on the northeast, and by Western Sahara on the northwest (most of which is occupied by Morocco). The capital and largest city is Nouakchott, located on the Atlantic coast. Mauritania is divided into 12 regions (regions) and one capital district, which in turn are subdivided into 44 departments (departements).