Taghaza was a medieval Saharan settlement in present-day Mali famous for mining salt for trans-Saharan trade.
The settlement stood in a remote salt-producing area north of Timbuktu. Workers cut blocks of salt from the ground, and merchants transported them south by camel caravan. Salt was especially valuable in the Sahel, where natural supplies were limited and the mineral was essential for food preservation and diet.
Taghaza flourished under several West African empires, including the Mali and Songhai empires. Medieval writers described its harsh environment, including a lack of trees and fresh water, which made long-term habitation difficult.
Taghaza is sometimes confused with Taoudenni, another famous salt-mining center in Mali. Taoudenni later became the region’s dominant salt source, while Taghaza was eventually abandoned.