Following the 1.5m contour line around West Africa
 

I know it sounds a bit strange. This summer myself and two colleagues are embarking on an environmental education project to raise awareness about the consequences of sea level change around the Atlantic coastline.

To launch the project we are embarking on a 35,000km expedition to circumnavigate the Atlantic, following the overland 1.5m contour - the level to which sea levels are predicted to rise within the next 100 years.

On this journey we are creating a network between 50 schools in 13 different countries - all of them found below 1.5m. More information can be found on our website at www.atlanticrising.org.

The reason I am posting here is because our route takes us through Morocco, Western Sahara, Mauritania and Senegal:

• A lot of the things that I have read about the coast road in Western Sahara suggest that there is some danger from landmines. Can anybody clarify this?
• A lot of people say that the coast road through Mauritania is really boring. How can we spice this up, where are the interesting places that people would recommend visiting, without straying too far into the higher desert?

Many thanks, and advice much appreciated.

Best

Will

question
 

By what means of transport are you intending to do this route?

Update: Ah, metal box. I see. :)

Will Lorimer , you have a p.m

If you're ecoconscious people then I hope you're going to be considering the damage you will be causing to the intertidal zone... A far too often overlooked result of ORV adventures.

Will,
Sounds like a great adventure and a worthy cause.

I don't think the coast road through Mauritania is really boring (especially if you get the tides wrong!), though I'm a desert guy and a lot of people are just in a hurry to get through. There is of course the Banc d'Arguin National Park, I've met with the people in this region, and as mostly fishermen I'm sure they'll be affected by the change in sea-level.

The road down the Western Sahara is tarmac, and safe from land-mines. We've spent some time getting down to the beach which is nice and quiet, as you'd expect. If you stray off-road near the border areas, particularly off the "Old Spanish Road" which is kinda the no-mans land after the Moroccan border post but before the Mauritania border post, there is a danger from land mines, as the husks of vehicles remind you.

Good luck with your trip.
Nick.