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| Info about Morocco | |
Morocco Travel Guide
Facts, Attractions, Transport, Food, Money, Visa, Travelogues, Nightlife, Culture, Links ... |
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Introduction
Morocco is a land so intrinsically beautiful and rich with heritage that the moment you step foot on it you feel completely transported to another time and place. The landscapes vary from snow-laden slopes to pristine deserts. Let us take you there...
In about the 3rd century B.C successive Amazigh(berber) dynasties ruled in Morocco. In the 16th century, the Sa'adi monarchy, particularly under Ahmad AL-MANSUR (1578-1603), repelled foreign invaders and inaugurated a golden age. In 1860, Spain occupied northern Morocco and ushered in a half century of trade rivalry among European powers that saw Morocco's sovereignty steadily eroded; in 1912, the French imposed a protectorate over the country. A protracted independence struggle with France ended successfully in 1956. The internationalized city of Tangier and most Spanish possessions were turned over to the new country that same year. Morocco virtually annexed Western Sahara during the late 1970s, but final resolution on the status of the territory remains unresolved. Gradual political reforms in the 1990s resulted in the establishment of a bicameral legislature in 1997. Parliamentary elections were held for the second time in September 2002 and municipal elections were held in September 2003.
Location:
Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Western Sahara
Geographic coordinates:
32 00 N, 5 00 W
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 446,550 sq km
land: 446,300 sq km
water: 250 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than California
Land boundaries:
total: 2,017.9 km
Coastline:
1,835 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:
Mediterranean, becoming more extreme in the interior
Terrain:
northern coast and interior are mountainous with large areas of bordering plateaus, intermontane valleys, and rich coastal plains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Sebkha Tah -55 m
highest point: Jebel Toubkal 4,165 m
Natural resources:
phosphates, iron ore, manganese, lead, zinc, fish, salt
Land use:
arable land: 19.61%
permanent crops: 2.17%
other: 78.22% (2001)
Irrigated land:
12,910 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
northern mountains geologically unstable and subject to earthquakes; periodic droughts
Environment - current issues:
land degradation/desertification (soil erosion resulting from farming of marginal areas, overgrazing, destruction of vegetation); water supplies contaminated by raw sewage; siltation of reservoirs; oil pollution of coastal waters
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
strategic location along Strait of Gibraltar
Population:
32,725,847 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 32.1% (male 5,349,247/female 5,150,497)
15-64 years: 63% (male 10,259,808/female 10,346,608)
65 years and over: 4.9% (male 708,921/female 910,766) (2005 est.)
Median age:
total: 23.61 years
male: 23.11 years
female: 24.13 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.57% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:
22.29 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:
5.64 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.92 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 41.62 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 45.42 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 37.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.66 years
male: 68.35 years
female: 73.07 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.73 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
15,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, and hepatitis A
vectorborne diseases: may be a significant risk in some locations during the transmission season (typically April through November) (2004)
Nationality:
noun: Moroccan(s)
adjective: Moroccan
Ethnic groups:
Berber 90%, arabs 10.7%, others 0.2%
Religions:
Muslim 98.7%, Christian 1.1%, Jewish 0.2%
Languages:
Arabic (official), Berber , French often the language of business, government, and diplomacy
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 51.7%
male: 64.1%
female: 39.4% (2003 est.)
Marrakech
Marrakech représente le Maroc pur , un Maroc plus Africain qu’oriental ; Marrakech la ville de mille et un secret ! ce n’est pas sans raison que cette oasis du sud , à l’histoire presque millénaire est surnommée ‘ la perle du sud ’. Fondée par un conquérant et grand empereur Berbère au pied des neiges éternelles du Haut - Atlas , Marrakech - l’une des quatre villes impériales au Maroc - a survécu à de nombreuses Dynasties , de Sultans qui s’y sont combattus .
Laissez vous émerveiller par les prestigieux héritages historiques et civilisationnels tels que les Tombeaux Saadiens , la Mosquée de la Koutoubia et son célèbre Minaret- symbole de la ville , les Palais Bahia et El Badi ou encore par les impressionnants Remparts de la ville . Les ruelles en labyrinthe de la Médina avec leurs impressionnants souks ne sont pas moins intéressants . Sur la Place la plus célèbre du continent Africain , La Place jemâ El-fna , règne tous les soirs une intense animation ou se mêlent conteurs , porteurs d’eau acrobates , charmeurs de serpents et marchants de toutes sortes .
Marrakech est également célèbre pour ses extraordinaires Jardins , ceux de la Ménara d’Aguedal , ou de Majorelle – ces derniers dessinés et plantés par le peintre français qui porte le même nom .
Top Things to See and Do
Please just make a simple list separated by commas here - more info in the Travel Guide.
Neighboring countries: Algeria, Western Sahara, Spain
Who is coming? Just add your user name and basic info (date and places you will visit) about your trip here, maybe other members will invite you or meet up with you on the road. Use your profile to tell more about your plans.
Cef is coming to Casablanca from 04-18 October i am very interested in learning new cultures, countries, meeting local people, discovering new things, everyone who is interested in meeting me, don't be afraid just contact me, i am a nice guy
ifiyenia Salam! My first big journey abroad and first time exploring Africa and magical Morocco. I speak English fluently, and a couple of words and expressions in darija, no French though! Anxious about it and excited at the same time. I ll be in Marrakech on 20 August and stay there till the end of the month before move to Essaouira for a couple of days. I cant wait :) See u all there.
Kinga - I am starting my African adventure from Mexico. I want to travel around the entire continent and Morocco will be my first African country. I hope to enter the country at the end of October. I would like to get to know and stay with some friendly people - as a woman I would feel more comfortable staying with other women or families (I have noticed that there is an overwhelming majority of male HC members in Morocco!)
Regards and hope to meet you along my African way...
SYRUN is coming, in AUGUST 2005, all Morocco !! Tanger 20 August, Rabat Casablanca, 22-25 August !! I am travelling around the world, 35 countries ! Please invite me !!!! Salam, Thanks, Merci ! I speak french, english and some arabic !syrun1@yahoo.com, Sylvain Quenel de Toulouse, France.
Want more guests! Add your user name here if you would like to receive more visitors - you should get more requests if listed here, even if you live in a small town off the beaten track.
Hospitality Club Meetings
If you would like to invite other members to an activity or meeting, add the info here. You can use the Travel Guide for more detailed info.
If you have added some info here you can simply remove the instruction text. Thanks for helping to build this great resource!!
Edited by: Cef on 08.07.2008 ifiyenia on 23.06.2007 alminas on 27.09.2006 alminas on 30.07.2006 gardke on 17.05.2006 massin73 on 23.02.2006 kinga on 03.10.2005 syrun on 16.08.2005 syrun on 17.07.2005
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| Last postings about Morocco from other users |
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casaoui2000 wrote:
In Casablanca, there are many things one can do and see: to visit the Hassan II Great Mosque, discover the old Medina, to enjoy the Cosmopolitan life of Casablanca, visit the traditional markets, discover the traditions of the people, etc...
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