Morocco

Morocco (Arabic: “al-Maghrib”), officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is a country in North Africa with a population of 33,757,175. It has a coast on the Atlantic Ocean that reaches past the Strait of Gibraltar into the Mediterranean Sea. Morocco has international borders with Algeria to the east, Spain to the north (a water border through the Strait and land borders with two small Spanish autonomous cities, Ceuta and Melilla), and Mauritania to the south.Strategically situated with both Atlantic and Mediterranean coastlines, but with a rugged mountainous interior, it stayed independent for centuries while developing a rich culture blended from Arab, Berber, European and African influences.

Morocco was a French protectorate from 1912 to 1956, when Sultan Mohammed became king. He was succeeded in 1961 by his son, Hassan II, who ruled for 38 years. He played a prominent role in the search for peace in the Middle East, given the large number of Israelis of Moroccan origin, but was criticized for suppressing domestic opposition.

Morocco’s capital city is Rabat; its largest city is its main port, Casablanca. Other cities include Agadir, Essaouira, Fes, Marrakech, Meknes, Mohammadia, Oujda, Ouarzazat, Safi, Salè, Tangier and Tétouan.Morocco is the third most populous Arab country, after Egypt and Sudan.

Location: Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Western Sahara.

Capital: Rabat

Official language: Arabic

Government type:  Constitutional Monarchy

Chief of State: King MOHAMED VI

Prime Minister: Abbas El Fassi

National Holiday: Throne Day (accession of King MOHAMED VI to the throne), 30 July (1999)

Area

total: 446 550 km²
land: 446 300 km²
water: 250 km²

Climate: Mediterranean, becoming more extreme in the interior.

Population: 33 757 175 (July 2007)

Currency: Moroccan Dirham (MAD)

Internet domain: .ma

International dialing code: +212

Sources: www.wikipedia.org

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