This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 84.179.225.205 (talk) at 14:25, 21 October 2005. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 14:25, 21 October 2005 by 84.179.225.205 (talk)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Arguin is an island off the west coast of Mauritania in the Bay of Arguin, at 20° 36' N., 16° 27' W. It is 6 km long by 2 broad. Off the island are extensive and very dangerous reefs. Arguin was occupied in turn by Portugal, the Netherlands, England, France, and Mauritania.
Arguin was a early German colony of the electorate Brandenburg between 1685 and 1721.
The first European to visit the island was the Portuguese explorer Nuno Tristão, in 1443. In 1445, Henry the Navigator set up a trading post on the island, which acquired gum arabic and slaves for Portugal. By 1455, 800 slaves were shipped from Arguin to Portugal every year.
External links
- 1911 Britannica article
- Modern Britannica article
- Lander's Travels—The Travels of Richard Lander into the Interior of Africa
- Portuguese slave routes
 | This North African location article is a stub. You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it. |