Kalmar "Mauritaniya" tana nufin ƙasar Mauritania, ƙasa ce da ke yankin yammacin nahiyar Afirka. Tana iyaka da Tekun Atlantika daga yamma, Senegal daga kudu maso yamma, Mali gabas da kudu maso gabas, Algeria a arewa maso gabas, da yankin yammacin Sahara da ake takaddama a kai a arewa maso yamma. Kalmar “Mauritanie” ta samo asali ne daga tsohuwar daular Berber ta Mauretania, wadda ta wanzu a wannan yanki sama da shekaru dubu biyu da suka wuce.