Morocco

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With over 33 million people, the Kingdom of MOROCCO (Arabic: المغرب; Berber: see image below) is a North African country bordering the Mediterranean Sea. Morocco shares a border with only one country, Algeria, which is located east. A territory currently belonging to Morocco, Western Sahara is located to the south. Morocco is also east of the Canary Islands (link to Canary Islands post) — which belong to Spain — and is south of the Strait of Gibraltar which separates Morocco from Spain and Gibraltar. Like Lesotho and Swaziland, Morocco is one of only three monarchical kingdoms in Africa.

Berber version of Morocco's name

● ● ● ● ●  People and Places  ● ● ● ● ●  The ethnicities of Moroccan people are predominantly Arabic and Berber. Arabic is Morocco's official language, with distinct varieties and dialects such as Hassaniyya, Judeo-Moroccan, Moroccan, and standard Arabic. Other languages spoken include French, Ghomara, Senhaja Berber, Spanish (particularly in northern and coastal areas), Tachelhit, Tamazight, Tarifit (Riffian Berber), and Taznatit. At least 90% of the population are Muslims, and some estimates say 99%. In addition to mosques, there are several churches, cathedrals, synagogues, and other places of worship — particularly in Morocco's cities, such as Casablanca and Rabat.

Containing over 1.6 million residents, Morocco's capital is Rabat; this city captivates residents and tourists alike with sites of interest such as the Jardin d’Essais, Medina of Rabat market, Chellah fortification and necropolis, Kasbah of the Udayas, and Old Town district. Several of these attractions are components of UNESCO's Rabat World Heritage Site. Made famous around the world thanks in part to the namesake 1940s film, Casablanca boasts a population greater than 3.1 million and features sites of interest such as the Hassan II Mosque, Old Medina markets, Quartier Habous markets and stores, L'église du Sacré-Coeur cathedral, and an Art Deco-style Cinema Rialto theater. Listed in higher-to-lower population order, other Moroccan cities include Fez, Marrakech, Agadir, Tangier, Meknès, Oujda, Kenitra (Qnitra), and Tétouan. Moroccans use the Moroccan Dirham as their currency, and its ISO 4217 currency code is MAD.

● ● ● ● ●  Land Features  ● ● ● ● ●  Along with Algeria and Tunisia, Morocco is home to the Atlas Mountains, a range stretching about 2,000 kilometers and 1,200 miles parallel to the Mediterranean Sea. Mount Toubkal is the highest mountain in the mountain range, North Africa, and Morocco. It stands 13,671 feet and 4,167 meters tall in elevation above sea level. The Sahara Desert is found in Morocco's southern and southeastern regions and southward into Western Sahara. Moroccan rivers and intermittent streams (wadis) include Oued Drâa in the south, Oued Guir in the east, Oued Moulouya in the northeast, Oued Sebou in the north, and Oued Sous in the south-center area.