Passe d'Amogjâl

Passe d'Amogjâl

Passe d'Amogjâl or Amojjar Pass is a mountain pass situated on the Adrar plateau, near Atar in the center of Adrar. The pass's pinkish-brown sandstone has been eroded by repeated cycles of extreme dryness interrupted by torrential rainfall. The steep valley walls are covered with scree loosened by the erosion of rainfall. The pass is sparsely vegetated, but the acacia trees are a remarkable exception, as they are drought resistant. The Amojjar Pass is an essential link for land transport in Mauritania, as it offers a relatively protected route linking the Mauritanian capital Nouakchott with other important places like Ouadane and Chinguetti. Agrour Amogjar's Neolithic rock paintings are located near the pass, northeast of the town of Atar. Agrour Amogjar is a 690 m high peak whose small natural shelters are home to a very rich collection of rock paintings in damaged condition. Some of the shelters are protected by a fence and access is charged. The set of rock paintings is a heterogeneous collection. They recorded eight groups of styles, from the pastoral period to the latest graffiti. The panels display geometric circles with sunburst designs, handprints, naturalistic wild animals like giraffe, lion and crocodile, along with herds of cattle and collective human scenes. The most significant series is a frieze of dancers.