The Iron Train

• Photographer
  Yann Lenzen
• Photo Date
  July 2019

Mauritania has only one train line. While primarily designed to carry iron ore from a mine in the Sahara to the harbour for export, numerous Mauritanians also hop on the trains to trade goods or visit relatives. The journey is free yet the travel conditions are dreadful. In the desert, the daily temperature range can be extreme. And the worst is the dust. Countless particles of iron spread in the air, making it difficult to breathe and see. Inspired by the courage of these men, I made the roundtrip in the hope of experiencing and documenting one hell of a ride across the desert.