Trivia in Western Sahara

National symbols

Flag: Horizontal tricolor of red, white, and black with green star and crescent, with a red triangle on the hoist. Similar to the Palestinian flag but with different proportions.

Emblem: Emblem featuring crossed rifles and olive branches embracing a red star and crescent.

Trivia & facts

• A conveyor belt over 100 km long runs from the Bou Craa phosphate mine, one of the world's largest, to the Atlantic coast.
• One of the longest-listed cases on the UN's Non-Self-Governing Territories list.
• Due to the Canary Current, coastal areas remain relatively mild with maximum temperatures around 30°C even in midsummer.
• The lagoon city of Dakhla has recently become popular with European wind and kitesurfers.
• The 'sand wall' fortification line exceeding 2,700 km divides the desert in two.
• The blue robe 'darraa' of Berber origin is practical clothing protecting the body from intense sun and sand.
• Nomads possess unique traditions of reading seasons and directions using constellations.
• Mobile networks are mainly in coastal areas; satellite communications are mainstream in the Liberated Zone.
• Desert nighttime temperatures drop sharply below 10°C, fostering a bonfire culture.
• Camel milk is high in protein and an important sustenance for nomads.