Facts about Morocco
Today Morocco is the fourth most populous Arab country, after Egypt, Sudan, and Algeria.
Morocco's history after independence, under the reign of Hassan II, was marked by a period of politically motivated persecutions and executions.
Legislative power is vested in both the government and the two chambers of the General Assembly of Uruguay.
Morocco is home to Andalusian classical music that is found throughout North Africa.
Morocco borders Algeria to the east, the Mediterranean Sea and a relatively thin water border with Spain to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to its west.
km), Morocco is comparable in size to Iraq and somewhat larger than the U.S. state of California.
Morocco has the largest reserves of phosphates in the world and mining and processing it (into fertilizers and phosphoric acid) are its largest industry.
Morocco recovered its political independence from France on March 2, 1956 and on April 7 of that year France officially relinquished its protectorate in Morocco.
The Idrisids established Fez as their capital, and Morocco became a center of learning and a major regional power.
Morocco has a total of 487 species, of which 32 are rare or accidental.
In 2003, Morocco's largest city, Casablanca, suffered from terrorist attacks targeted against Western and Jewish places.
The Treaty of Fez (signed in 1912) made Morocco a protectorate of France.
Morocco is known for its wildlife biodiversity, with birds representing the most important fauna.
Morocco's claim to sovereignty over the Western Sahara is based largely on a historical argument of traditional loyalty of the Sahrawi tribal leaders to the Moroccan sultan as spiritual leader and ruler.
Successful Portuguese efforts to control the Atlantic coast in the fifteenth century did not profoundly affect the Mediterranean heart of Morocco.
Off Morocco's Atlantic coast the Canary Islands belong to Spain, whereas Madeira to the north is Portuguese.
In 1777, Morocco's sultan declared that American merchant ships would be under his protection and enjoy safe passage.
Morocco also established new commercial ties with China and sold government shares in the state telecommunications company and the largest state-owned bank.
French, which remains Morocco's unofficial second language, is taught universally and still serves as Morocco's primary language of commerce and economics.
Morocco claims ownership of Western Sahara and has administered most of the territory since 1975.
Historians used to refer to Morocco as Al Maghrib al Aq?б (The Furthest West), referring to its location at the northwestern tip of the continent, bordering both the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.
Morocco reached its height under a series of Berber-origin dynasties that replaced the Arab Idrisids.
During the 1950s and 1960s, Morocco was an artistic center and attracted writers such as Paul Bowles, Tennessee Williams, and William S. Burroughs.
Under the Almohad dynasty Morocco experienced a period of prosperity and brilliance of learning.
During this time, however, the high mountains of most of modern Morocco remained unsubdued and stayed in the hands of their Berber inhabitants.
Morocco is an ethnically diverse country with a rich culture and civilization.
Following the September 1993 signing of the Israeli-Palestinian Declaration of Principles, Morocco accelerated its economic ties and political contacts with Israel.
The major issue in Morocco's foreign relations is its claim to Western Sahara, a former Spanish territory to the south.
Morocco has also supported efforts to stabilize Iraq following the downfall of Saddam Hussein.
The government of Morocco owns many key media outlets, including radio and television.
Morocco has 27 AM radio stations, 25 FM radio stations, six shortwave stations, and five television stations.
The Arabs invaded Morocco in the seventh century and established their culture.
Morocco was the first Arab state to condemn Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait in 1990 and sent troops to help defend Saudi Arabia.
North Africa and Morocco were slowly drawn into the wider emerging Mediterranean world by Phoenician trading colonies and settlements, starting in the eighth century B.C.E.
Morocco has sent in settlers to reinforce its claim and built a fortified berm around three-fourths of Western Sahara.
Morocco is a de jure constitutional monarchy, with an elected parliament.
The Muslim coast of North Africa, including Morocco, was called the Barbary Coast, named for the Berber tribes in the area.
Ethnically and culturally speaking, Morocco can be considered the least Arabic among Arab countries.
Morocco is a major grower of wheat, barley, beans, sugar beets, and citrus fruits, but productivity is erratic due to frequent droughts.
Morocco supports the search for peace and moderation in the Middle East.
Morocco was facing aggression from Spain and the Ottoman Empire, which was sweeping westward.
Morocco has about 230,000 students enrolled in fourteen public universities.
Modern genetic analyses have confirmed that various populations have contributed to the present-day population of Morocco, including, in addition to the main ethnic groups—Berbers and Arabs—Phoenicians, Sephardic Jews, and sub-Saharan Africans.
Rather than face possible execution, many Muslims and Jews fled to Morocco.
Morocco was among the first Arab and Islamic states to denounce the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States and declare solidarity with the American people in the war against terror.
Morocco has set among its top priorities the protection of its legacy and the preservation of its cultural identity.
Poverty has increased due to Morocco's continued dependence on foreign energy and its inability to promote the growth of small and medium size enterprises.
Through Moroccan history, Morocco, home of nomadic Berber tribes, hosted many people coming from the east (Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Jews, and Arabs), south (Africans), and north (Romans, Vandals, Moors, and Jews).
Morocco's capital city is Rabat, and its largest city is the main port of Casablanca.
Morocco's official language is classical Arabic but most of its people speak a distinctive dialect called Moroccan Arabic.
With 93% of its population being considered religious, Islam is the majority and constitutionally established state religion in Morocco. The vast majority of Muslims in Morocco are Sunni belonging to Maliki school of jurisprudence.
Public displays of affection between a male and a female, such as kissing, is not considered appropriate and should be avoided. You may notice Moroccan men walking or standing holding hands, this is normal between good friends and does not indicate anything beyond platonic friendship.
Some Moroccans believe themselves to be of mixed Arab-Berber descent or of Arab-Berber-Andalusian ancestry. There are no official figures about the exact ethnic origins of all Moroccans, but the implicitly accepted idea inside and outside Morocco is that Moroccans are essentially mixed Arab-Berbers.
Moor, in English usage, a Moroccan or, formerly, a member of the Muslim population of what is now Spain and Portugal. Of mixed Arab, Spanish, and Amazigh (Berber) origins, the Moors created the Arab Andalusian civilization and subsequently settled as refugees in North Africa between the 11th and 17th centuries.
Arabic. Arabic, along with Berber, is one of Morocco's two official languages, although it is the Moroccan dialect of Arabic, namely Darija, meaning "everyday/colloquial language"; that is spoken or understood, frequently as a second language, by the majority of the population (about 85% of the total population).
It's preferable when you go out pay in Dirham currency. The Moroccan currency is the Dirham. £1 sterling is approximately 13 Morrocan Dirhams. One Euro is approximately 11 Moroccan Dirhams. If you choose to stay in Marrakech for a few days you'd better have on you Dirhams.Aug 19, 2012
In their own homes, however, they may speak Moroccan Arabic, a Berber dialect, or perhaps Spanish. Soon, even more people will also speak English, making them trilingual. The variety of languages spoken in Morocco has a lot to do with its location, but it is still quite impressive.Jun 21, 2015