西撒哈拉(Western Sahara)
旧称西属撒哈拉（Spanish Sahara）。
位於非洲西北部大西洋沿岸沙漠地区，面积267,000平方公里。首府阿尤恩。西撒哈拉的史前史鲜为人知，只能从在萨吉亚阿姆拉和南部一些孤立地点所发现的岩石雕画推断，当时有一些游牧的族群曾先後居住在这里。在西元前4世纪，西撒哈拉与欧洲之间已有横越地中海的贸易往返；但并未持久，在19世纪以前，这里与欧洲人的接触不多。1884年西班牙政府声称里奥德奥罗湾沿海地带为其保护地。1900和1912年与法国签定边界协定。1958年，西班牙正式把里奥德奥罗和萨吉亚阿姆拉合组为西属撒哈拉，定为西班牙海外省。1976年西班牙自该区撤出，茅利塔尼亚和摩洛哥将这里分成两部分，1979年茅利塔尼亚退出，但摩洛哥却迅速吞并茅利塔尼亚在西撒哈拉的领土。1976在阿尔及利亚的分离主义分子宣布成立流亡政府，称为撒哈拉阿拉伯民主共和国；至2001年西撒哈拉的问题仍未解决。西撒哈拉有储量丰富磷酸盐，还有一些钾硷和铁沙。人口约217,600（1994）。
English version：
Western Sahara
Territory, North Africa. Area: 102,703 sq mi (266,000 sq km). Population (1993 est.): 213,000. Capital: El Aaiún. Little is known of the area's prehistory, though rock engravings in southern locations suggest a succession of nomadic groups. In the 4th century BC there was trade between it and Europe across the Mediterranean; this did not last, and later there was little European contact until the 19th century. In 1884 Spain claimed a protectorate over the Rio de Oro region. Boundary agreements with France were concluded in 1900 and 1912. Spain formally united the area's northern and southern parts into the overseas province of the Spanish Sahara in 1958. In 1976 Spain relinquished its claim and the region was divided between Mauritania, which gave up its claim in 1979, and Morocco, which later occupied the whole territory. Separatists based in Algeria declared a government-in-exile called the Saharan Arab Democratic Republic in 1976; the issue of Western Sahara's status was still unresolved in 2000. Western Sahara has vast phosphate deposits, and some potash and iron ore deposits.