Morocco

I

Introduction

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. Even modern Moroccan sites carry a mystique: Think of Casablanca, made famous by a motion picture (see Casablanca). In Arabic the country’s name is Al Mamlakah al Maghribīyah, 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.

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II

Land and Resources

Morocco has the broadest plains and the highest mountains in North Africa. The country has four main natural regions. An area of highlands, called Er Rif, runs parallel to the Mediterranean coast in the north, from Tangier to the Algerian border. Er Rif forms a barrier, preventing easy access to the coast from central Morocco. The Atlas Mountains, the second region, extend across the center of the country from the southwest to the northeast. The Taza Depression lies between Er Rif and the Atlas Mountains, allowing passage across the northern interior of Morocco into Algeria. Broad coastal plains along the Atlantic Ocean form the third region, framed by Er Rif and the Atlas Mountains. Finally, plains and valleys south of the Atlas Mountains merge with the Sahara along the southeastern border of Morocco. Most Moroccans inhabit the Atlantic coastal plain.

The Atlas Mountains consist of several distinct and parallel ranges. The highest range, known as the High Atlas or Grand Atlas, is in the middle. The next highest range, known as the Middle Atlas, lies to the north of the High Atlas. A lower range, called the Anti-Atlas, lies to the south of the High Atlas. The highest mountain in Morocco is Jebel Toubkal in the Grand Atlas.

Sandy beaches interrupted by rocky outcrops line the Atlantic coast of Morocco, with particularly fine beaches from Agadir south, sharp drops to the Mediterranean along Er Rif, and stunning Mediterranean beaches along the Tangier Peninsula. However, large tourist developments have spoiled many of the beaches along the Tangier Peninsula.

A

Rivers

Morocco has many rivers. Although unimportant for navigation, the rivers are used for irrigation and for generating electric power. The chief rivers are the Moulouya, which drains into the Mediterranean Sea, and the Sebou, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean. Dry valleys called wadis fill with water during the rainy season and can flow torrentially during the rainy winter months. The wadis generally run into the Sahara.

B

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.

A hot, dry, and sometimes violent wind, the chergui, accompanies centers of dense low pressure that frequently emerge out of the Sahara, rise over the Atlas, and abut high-pressure zones at the Atlantic. Known as the sirocco in Europe, the chergui can bring stifling, uncomfortable weather that lasts several days.

Rain falls mainly during the winter months. Precipitation is heaviest in the northwest and lightest in the east and south. The average annual precipitation is about 955 mm (about 37.5 in) in Tangier, 430 mm (17 in) in Casablanca, 280 mm (11 in) in Essaouira, and less than 102 mm (4 in) in the Sahara.

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