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General information [add image]
Morocco kingdom in North Africa. Morocco is a fabled destination for travelers, known for its spectacular mountain scenery, its colorful bazaars, and its ancient capitals at Fès and Marrakech.
In Arabic the country’s name is Al Mamlakah al Maghribiyah, meaning “the kingdom of the West.”
Morocco is located at the crossroads of several worlds: African, Mediterranean, Christian, and Islamic. From these varied influences the country has forged a distinctive culture, apparent in its arts and architecture, language, cuisine, and outlook on the world. Spain lies directly across the Strait of Gibraltar from Morocco, only 13 km (8 mi) distant. For 44 years, from 1912 to 1956, Morocco was divided into protectorates and ruled by France and Spain. Even today, two Spanish enclaves—Ceuta and Melilla—on the Mediterranean coast remain within Morocco, and small islands off the coast also belong to Spain.
The people of Morocco are mainly Arabs and Berbers or of mixed Arab and Berber ancestry. Arabic is the official language of the country, but many people speak a Berber language, especially in rural areas. French is also spoken in the cities. Morocco’s economy is based largely on agriculture, but tourism contributes significantly.
Morocco is a constitutional monarchy, with a king as head of state and a prime minister as head of the government. Rabat, where the king lives, is the capital of Morocco. Casablanca, south of Rabat along the Atlantic coast, is the country’s largest city and commercial center. Morocco borders the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean to its north and east, and the Sahara to its south. Also south of Morocco lies Western Sahara, a former overseas province of Spain that Morocco has claimed and administered since 1979. The country’s southeastern border with Algeria, in the Sahara, has never been precisely defined.
Climate
Along the Mediterranean, Morocco has a subtropical climate. An ocean current tempers the climate and gives the coastal cities moderate temperatures. At the port city of Essaouira (formerly known as Mogador), for example, temperatures average 16.4°C (61.5°F) in January and 22.5°C (72.5°F) in August. Toward the interior, winters are colder and summers warmer. Thus, in Fès the average temperature is 10°C (50°F) in January and 26.9°C (80.5°F) in August. Marrakech is often the hottest of the major cities. Temperatures there commonly reach a daytime high of 38°C (100°F), yet nights are dry and comfortable. At high altitudes temperatures of less than -17.8°C (0°F) are not uncommon, and mountain peaks are covered with snow during most of the year.
Rain falls mainly during the winter months. Precipitation is heaviest in the northwest and lightest in the east and south.
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| Morocco |
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Native Name: Kingdom of Morocco
Capital: Rabat
Population: 31,700,000
Currency: Moroccan dirham (MAD)
Phone Perfix: +212
Voltage: 230 V, 50 Hz
Emergency: Police: 19, Highway service: 177
Official Site: External Site
Vaccination: H, P, DT, T
Abb.:
DT = Diptheria (10yr+)
P = Polio (10yr+)
MP = Malaria Prophylaxis
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