Ben Amera is Africa's largest monolith rising 633m (2027ft) above the desert floor. It's the world's second largest

monolith A monolith is a geological feature consisting of a single massive rock (geology), stone or rock, such as some mountains. For instance, Savandurga, Savandurga mountain is a monolith mountain in India. Erosion usually exposes the geological for ...

only behind

Uluru Uluru (; pjt, Uluṟu ), also known as Ayers Rock ( ) and officially Gazette#Gazette as a verb, gazetted as UluruAyers Rock, is a large sandstone geological formation, formation in the centre of Australia. It is in the southern part of the ...

, in

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

. Ben Amera is located in

Mauritania Mauritania (; ar, موريتانيا, ', french: Mauritanie; Berber: ''Agawej'' or ''Cengit''; Pulaar: ''Moritani''; Wolof: ''Gànnaar''; Soninke:), officially the Islamic Republic of Mauritania ( ar, الجمهورية الإسلامية ...

, near the border with

Western Sahara Western Sahara ( '; ; ) is a disputed territory on the northwest coast and in the Maghreb region of North and West Africa. About 20% of the territory is controlled by the self-proclaimed Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), while the r ...

. It lies 4km north of the train track where the famous Iron Ore Train travels between Nouâdibhou and Choûm. Nearby, a lesser monolith, Aïsha lies a 20-minute drive to the west of Ben Amera. "In 1999, a dozen artists of international fame celebrated the millennium by carving into the boulders at the base of Aïsha. They etched deep into the stone creating animal shapes as well as abstract. Some of the artworks are installation pieces that go beyond the boulder’s surface and use multiple stones in specific configurations to create their effect."

Getting There

A 4x4 vehicle and an experienced desert driver is required to handle the deep, sandy track out to Ben Amera, as there is no paving once you leave the road that runs from Atar to Zouerrat. Drivers can be hired in Atar if you don't have your own vehicle. The rough path runs parallel to the tracks for the Iron Ore Train before crossing it at Km 395. As of December 2018, there was a small encampment near the tracks and a security checkpoint. Whereas at one point in time fiches were required for foreign travelers at these types of checkpoints, now, a simple photocopy of the traveler's passport usually suffices.

What to Take

Get all of the food and water you'll think you need in Atar, whether for a day trip, or if you plan to camp overnight because there are ''no facilities'' anywhere near Ben Amera or Aïsha. Also make sure your vehicle is in top shape and that you have your repair kit on board. The path is rough and challenging and lightly traveled. If you get stuck, it may be a while before someone comes along that can help. Also take a hat, and any sun protections you need. You may also want a bandanna, or the like, to cover your face if it gets windy.

Geological monoliths of Africa

Brandberg Mountain The Brandberg ( Damara: Dâures; hz, Omukuruvaro) is Namibia's highest mountain. Location and extent Brandberg Mountain is located in former Damaraland, now Erongo, in the northwestern Namib Desert, near the coast, and covers an area of ap ...

, Namibia *

Aso Rock Aso Rock is a large outcrop of granitic rock located on the outskirts of Abuja, the capital of Nigeria. The Aso Rock is a prominent monolith with a peak height of above sea level. It is one of the city's most noticeable features. The Nigerian ...

, Nigeria *

Zuma Rock Zuma Rock is a large natural monolith, or inselberg, an igneous intrusion composed of gabbro and granodiorite, in Niger State, Nigeria. It is located immediately west of Nigeria's capital Abuja, along the main road from Abuja to Kaduna off Mad ...

, Nigeria

References

Lexicorient

External links

10 largest monoliths of the world
Natural monoliths Landforms of Mauritania {{Mauritania-geo-stub