Morocco
By Zineb Bensalem
Morocco
Geography
History
Main Cities
Statistics
Geography
Morocco, about one-tenth larger than
California, lies across the Strait of
Gibraltar on the Mediterranean and
looks out on the Atlantic from the
northwest shoulder of Africa. Algeria
is to the east and Mauritania to the
south. On the Atlantic coast there is a
fertile plain. The Mediterranean coast
is mountainous. The Atlas Mountains,
running northeastward from the south
to the Algerian frontier, average 11,000
ft (3,353 m) in elevation.
History
Morocco has been the home of the Berbers since
the second millennium B.C. In A.D. 46, Morocco
was annexed by Rome as part of the province of
Mauritania until the Vandals overran this portion
of the declining empire in the 5th century. The
Arabs invaded circa 685, bringing Islam. The
Berbers joined them in invading Spain in 711, but
then they revolted against the Arabs, resenting
their secondary status. In 1086, Berbers took
control of large areas of Moorish Spain until they
were expelled in the 13th century.
The land was rarely unified and was usually ruled
by small tribal states. Conflicts between Berbers
and Arabs were chronic. Portugal and Spain began
invading Morocco, which helped to unify the land
in defense. In 1660, Morocco came under the
control of the Alawite dynasty. It is a sherif
dynasty—descended from the prophet
Muhammad—and rules Morocco to this day.
More information:
X:\moroccan history.docx
Marrakesh is more than just a
city. It is a pearl polished by
history and its tradition of
hospitality which, for centuries,
has known how to welcome
visitors. The Majorelle Gardens
house a collection of plants from
the four corners of the earth
flourishing among elegant
ornamental lakes and an Art
Deco villa. Yves Saint Laurent's
ashes were scattered here. You
leave this enchanted spot in one
of the many horse drawn
carriages available in the city and
take the inevitable trip to the
palm grove. From there, you
continue to the Ménara, one of
Marrakesh's symbolic places.
This elegant building, which you
can recognize by its green tiles, is
surrounded by an immense
ornamental lake. Marrakshi
families come here to enjoy this
cool spot during heat waves.
Casablanca may be the
cosmopolitan, industrial
and economic heart of
Morocco, but it is one of
the less endearing of the
country's sights. It has a
small, unassuming medina
and a traffic-congested
ville nouvelle. The aweinspiring
Hassan
II
Mosque and happening
nightlife, however, are
worth at least a day of
your Moroccan itinerary
With its miraculous climate,
providing a minimum of 300 days of
sunshine a year, and its 10km long
beach, Agadir has all you need for a
great seaside holiday. Agadir is a
member of a private club, which is
part of the world’s most beautiful
bays; it contains a marina that can
receive several hundred-pleasure
boats.
Statistics
Population
Birth rates (Births/1000
population)
35,000,000
34,000,000
27
33,000,000
25
32,000,000
31,000,000
Morocco
30,000,000
29,000,000
23
21
Morocco
28,000,000
19
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
27,000,000
17
15
1995
2000
2005
2010
2015