This Sahara Railway Is One of the Most Extreme in the World | Short Film Showcase

At more than 430 miles long, the Mauritania Railway has been transporting iron ore across the blistering heat of the Sahara Desert since 1963.

#NationalGeographic #Trains #Sahara

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One of the longest and heaviest trains in the world, the 1.8-mile beast runs from the mining center of Zouerat to the port city of Nouadhibou on Africa’s Atlantic coast. The train is the bedrock of the Mauritanian economy and a lifeline to the outside world for the people who live along its route.

Hop on board the ‘Backbone of the Sahara’ with filmmaker Macgregor for an incredible journey through the stunning Western Saharan landscape.

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This Sahara Railway Is One of the Most Extreme in the World | Short Film Showcase

National Geographic

[NatGeo]

Trains on the Mauritania Railway are up to 3 kilometers in length, making them among the largest and heaviest in the world. What are your thoughts on this impressive railway?

[yobingsaurora]

Documentaries like these are so humbling; we live on the same planet but completely different realities.

[Moaazsi]

As a Mauritanian am really thankful that National Geographic shared one of the amazing facts about my country. I really appreciate all your efforts

[Sushant]

The people who built the train track in this scorching heat 🙌🏻

[JeffreyBue_imtxsmoke]

And when I'm having a bad day, vids like this bring me back down to earth and thankful for my blessings.

[Mandeepd]

I cannot express about how much gratitude and respect i have for National Geographic for making me see and feel things like no other digital media platform anywhere around the globe. I wish the people you record in you videos have a life full of wealth and well being. You guys can really make people do great things. Keep Growing.

[MiaogisTeas]

Nat Geo is raising the bar on YouTube! What a moving documentary. The evocative music matched the visuals, and the overall minimalist vibe was perfect for this subject.

[obamabinladen]

9:57 his face brings peace. what a calm soul.

[gumelini]

I would watch an entire hour and a half documentary on this, that is how hooked i am after watching this

[mrmario]

One the best cinematography I have ever seen ❤️🌍

[catseyeruby]

At some point, I felt like watching CGI animation.. Awsome cinematography.. The music and the people's brought a strange feeling in me.. It bought me tears.. Long live sahara ❤

[theforsaken]

Infinity respect to the amazing workers that laid all the railing in this unforgiving terrain. And definitely not forgetting all the railway workers there .

[BackOutside]

this 13 minute video is better then the entire 8th season of game of thrones

[穿越非洲]

I have trekked between Chinguetti and Ouadane in early 2017 with Ahmad, the same guide in the film.He was so kind and nice, as well as professional.I could not forget this 5-day long trip with him.After this trekking I climbed on the train and stayed overnight there.It's an experience that I will never forget.Thank you Mauritania.

[religion_of_rage]

who wouldve guessed that a story of a railway can be so beautiful?

[Harikrishna-xwok]

My heart broken when I read "it is their only connection to the outside world " quite powerful. Now people in urban still feel alone having all kind of gadgets. Such a blessed life we have. Imagine life of these people. Great...just great people.

[TheRishabhkumar]

I love how cinematically this video is done with almost no words. The visuals and the sounds were totally captivating.

[gorguimoussa]

this is the train of the biggest company in Mauritania called "Snim", it is located in Nouadhibou the economic Capital of Mauritania and my father works in there since 1977 and he'll retire this year. it's very beautiful watching and seeing my fellow citizen just heart toching

[andymckee]

I tip my hat to Macgregor the film maker for this utterly stunning and thoughtful piece. The style of using titles instead of a commentator is infinitely more preferable. Thank you for making this I salute you!

[charlesallen]

I rode this train from Choum (the centerpoint stop) to Zouerate, then all the way back down to Nouadhibou in 1978 during the Polisario war when I was in Mauritania serving as an NGO director. I remember riding on top of the ore through the frigid desert night. The train crew let us ride with them in the engine cab on the way back down to the port. So many trains were derailed during the war. We passed many ore cars tipped over and abandoned.