El Buur alternatively Ceelbuur or Eilbur, is a town in central Somalia

Somalia

Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...

. It was formerly the capital of the Galgaduud region.

Overview

El Buur is an old town, having been inhabited since at least the 16th century. It once served as a local commercial hub.

The area is particularly noted as a center for quarrying. Here, the meerschaum

Meerschaum

Meerschaum , also sepiolite, is a soft white mineral sometimes found floating on the Black Sea, and rather suggestive of sea-foam, whence the German origin of the name, as well as the French name for the same substance, écume de mer.-Overview:...

 (sepiolite

Sepiolite

Sepiolite is a clay mineral, a complex magnesium silicate, a typical formula for which is Mg4Si6O152·6H2O. It can be present in fibrous, fine-particulate, and solid forms....

) used to make the Somali people

Somali people

Somalis are an ethnic group located in the Horn of Africa, also known as the Somali Peninsula. The overwhelming majority of Somalis speak the Somali language, which is part of the Cushitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family...

's trademark dabqaad

Dabqaad

The dabqaad , also known as idin or girgire, is an incense burner, or censer. With either one or two handles, it is commonly used in Somalia, Djibouti, Ethiopia and Eritrea.-Usage and production:...

incense burner is mined.

El Buur is also the place of origin of the local pipe-making industry.