An important historical site in Morocco's capital Rabat. Read More: Shopping in Marrakech: Beyond the Souks . [5], It is estimated that between 41%[130] to 80% of residents have Berber ancestral origins. Its southern border is the Sahara Desert. Morocco also has the largest port in Africa and the Mediterranean called Tanger-Med, which is ranked the 18th in the world with a handling capacity of over 9 million containers. Tourism is the second largest foreign exchange earner in Morocco after the phosphate industry. The following decade saw much wrangling over a proposed referendum on the future of the territory but the deadlock was not broken. [98], As of 24 May 2020, hundreds of Moroccan migrant workers are trapped in Spain. In 1968, the first Mediterranean Film Festival was held in Tangier. Moroccan agricultural production also consists of orange, tomatoes, potatoes, olives, and olive oil. [109] Both the agriculture and fishing industries are expected to be severely impacted by climate change.[110]. The Saharawi group Polisario maintains an active militia of an estimated 5,000 fighters in Western Sahara and has engaged in intermittent warfare with Moroccan forces since the 1970s. Temara a city in the subarban area of the capital Rabat. Many countries from the Persian Gulf and Maghreb regions are getting more involved in large-scale development projects in Morocco. 23.618226672344065 (2019) Absolute number of deaths from ambient particulate air pollution. Morocco was made a French protectorate in 1912 but regained independence in 1956. Morocco is approximately 446,550 sq km, while California is approximately 403,882 sq km, making California 90.44% the size of Morocco. At higher elevations, the climate becomes alpine in character, and can sustain ski resorts. Voter turnout in these elections was estimated to be 43% of registered voters. As a result, by the late 3rd century, direct Roman rule had become confined to a few coastal cities, such as Septum (Ceuta) in Mauretania Tingitana and Cherchell in Mauretania Caesariensis. What is the capital of Liechtenstein? The country's strategic location near the mouth of the Mediterranean eventually attracted the interest of European powers: In 1912, Morocco was divided into French and Spanish protectorates, with an international zone in Tangier. 'place the sun sets; the west'; Standard Moroccan Tamazight: ⵍⵎⵖⵔⵉⴱ, romanized: lmeɣrib, French: Maroc), officially the Kingdom of Morocco (Arabic: المملكة المغربية‎, romanized: al-mamlaka al-maḡribiyya, lit. 74,084,000. The Complete Book of Rugby (Seven Oaks Ltd, 1997, Franco-Cantabrian refuge area of southwestern Europe, Mediterranean acacia-argania dry woodlands and succulent thickets, opposition assumed power following an election, dispute with Spain in 2002 over the small island of Perejil, Royal Advisory Council for Saharan Affairs, expected to be severely impacted by climate change, l'Institut National des Postes et Télécommunication (INPT), "Constitution of the Kingdom of Morocco, I-1", "Morocco Population, 1960-2019 - knoema.com", "Report for Selected Countries and Subjects", "The Transformation of the Union for the Mediterranean", Oldest Homo sapiens fossil claim rewrites our species' history, "Saami and Berbers—An Unexpected Mitochondrial DNA Link", "The Maghrib under the Almoravids and the Almohads", "Joint Statement by the United States of America and the Kingdom of Morocco", "Milestones of American Diplomacy, Interesting Historical Notes, and Department of State History", "The French Conquest Of Morocco: The Real Meaning Of The International Trouble", Morocco tackles painful role in Spain's past, Morocco: Date of the abolishment of slavery in Morocco; whether descendants of ex-slaves are singled out in any way; and fate of the Palace household and grounds staff when King Mohamed V was in exile, "POPULATION LÉGALE DES RÉGIONS, PROVINCES, PRÉFECTURES, MUNICIPALITÉS, ARRONDISSEMENTS ET COMMUNES DU ROYAUME D'APRÈS LES RÉSULTATS DU RGPH 2014", "English country names and code elements", "MOROCCO: Ranked second worldwide in climate change control", Crocodiles in the Sahara Desert: An Update of Distribution, Habitats and Population Status for Conservation Planning in Mauritania, "Barbary macaques exploited as photo-props in Marrakesh's punishment square", "Potential benefits of impending Moroccan wildlife trade laws, a case study in carnivore skins", "Open, Unregulated Trade in Wildlife in Morocco's Markets", "Conservation in an ever-globalizing world: wildlife trade in, from, and through Morocco, a gateway to Europe", "An Ecoregion-Based Approach to Protecting Half the Terrestrial Realm", "Anthropogenic modification of forests means only 40% of remaining forests have high ecosystem integrity - Supplementary Material", "Democracy index 2014: Democracy and its discontents", "Democracy Index 2017: Free speech under attack", King declares Morocco a constitutional monarchy, "Encyclopedia of the Nations: Morocco Foreign Policy", "GCC Countries Invest Heavily in Morocco", "Morocco to rejoin African Union despite Western Sahara dispute", "06RABAT557, SPANISH AMBASSADOR ON WESTERN SAHARA, MIGRATION", "Report of the Secretary-General on the situation concerning Western Sahara", International Center for Transitional Justice, "Morocco's Truth Commission: Honoring Past Victims during an Uncertain Present: V. Constraints on the ERC", "afrol News – Western Sahara activists released, re-arrested in riots", "Morocco/Western Sahara: Sahrawi human rights defender on trial", "Refworld | Morocco: The treatment of homosexuals, including protection offered by the state and the attitude of the population", "Laws on Homosexuality in African Nations", "Une famille française arrêtée pour prosélytisme à Marrakech", "Morocco criminalises violence against women and sexual harassment", "Moroccans trapped in Spain for 2 months due to coronavirus head home at last", Morocco major economic player in Africa, researcher, "IMF Gives Morocco Positive Review. Sultan Mohammed became king in 1957. [190] Morocco has also some of prestigious postgraduate schools, including: l'Institut National des Postes et Télécommunication (INPT), École Nationale Supérieure d'Électricité et de Mecanique (ENSEM), EMI, ISCAE, INSEA, National School of Mineral Industry, École Hassania des Travaux Publics, Les Écoles nationales de commerce et de gestion, École supérieure de technologie de Casablanca. Mohammed VI paid a controversial visit to the Western Sahara in 2002. The Moroccan government has launched a project to build a solar thermal energy power plant[117] and is also looking into the use of natural gas as a potential source of revenue for Morocco's government. By 2020, or even sooner, the $9 billion solar power plant is expected to generate 580 megawatts (MW), enough electricity to power over a million homes. The matter was resolved at the Algeciras Conference in 1906. March 23, 2021 By Jon Coen. [119] In 2004, according to the UN World Drugs Report, cultivation and transformation of cannabis represents 0.57% of the national GDP of Morocco in 2002. Since air services between Morocco and Algeria have been established, many Algerians have gone to Morocco to shop and visit family and friends. Internal security is generally effective, and acts of political violence are rare (with one exception, the 2003 Casablanca bombings which killed 45 people[79]). The mirrors cover an area of roughly 1.4 million square metres. In contrast to the Sahara region in the south, coastal plains are fertile in the central and northern regions of the country, and comprise the backbone of the country's agriculture, in which 95% of the population live. It is the 58th largest country in the world by area with 446,550 square kilometers. For information on reusing text from Wikipedia, please see the terms of use. The government is encouraging public institutions to engage with citizens in innovation. [124][126], On 20 May 2015, less than a year after its inception, the Higher Council for Education, Training and Scientific Research presented a report to the king offering a Vision for Education in Morocco 2015–2030. With the 2011 constitutional reforms, the King of Morocco retains less executive powers whereas those of the prime minister have been enlarged.[77][78]. Salé, old walled city on the Atlantic coast of Morocco, at the mouth of the Wadi Bou Regreg. [124], Morocco has a population of around 36,029,093 inhabitants (2018 est.). In 1975, after Spain agreed to decolonise the territory and cede its control to Morocco and Mauritania, a guerrilla war broke out between those powers and some of the local inhabitants. Under the Saadi dynasty, the country ended the Aviz dynasty of Portugal at the Battle of Alcácer Quibir in 1578. The first phase of this plant generated enough electricity to supply 650,000 people when it was switched on in 2016. [136], Morocco has a large diaspora, most of which is located in France, which has reportedly over one million Moroccans of up to the third generation. [143] Morocco is a member of the United Nations and belongs to the African Union (AU), Arab League, Arab Maghreb Union (UMA), Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Non-Aligned Movement and the Community of Sahel–Saharan States (CEN_SAD). While I’m sure Morocco may be more lenient when it comes to foreign travelers, I would not encourage my LGBTQ friends to visit Morocco until the law changes. The English name "Morocco" is an anglicisation of the Spanish name for the country, "Marruecos". A United Nations mission, MINURSO, is tasked with organizing a referendum on whether the territory should become independent or recognised as a part of Morocco. [71] It had a 2019 Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 6.74/10, ranking it 66th globally out of 172 countries. How big is Africa? The Polisario rejected the plan and put forward its own proposal. In 1952, Orson Welles' Othello won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival under the Moroccan flag. The most recognizably "Moroccan" architecture, however, is the traditional architecture that developed in the Islamic period (7th century and after) which dominates much of Morocco's documented history and its existing heritage. This gives Morocco the best infrastructure rankings in the African continent. The aim was to give universities greater financial autonomy from the government to make them more responsive to research needs and better able to forge links with the private sector, in the hope that this would nurture a culture of entrepreneurship in academia. Under the Almohad dynasty Morocco experienced a period of prosperity and brilliance of learning. [179] The cuisine of Morocco is mainly a fusion of Moorish, European and Mediterranean cuisines. Emperor Claudius annexed Mauretania directly in 44 AD, making it a Roman province ruled by an imperial governor (either a procurator Augusti, or a legatus Augusti pro praetore). Morocco has had strong ties to the West in order to gain economic and political benefits. Its location is between the Japan and France pavilions. [178] Six years later, Mohammed Ousfour would create the first Moroccan movie, Le fils maudit ("The Damned Son"). On the Atlantic coast, where there are extensive plains, olives, citrus fruits, and wine grapes are grown, largely with water supplied by artesian wells. Asked by Wiki User. Through Moroccan history, it has hosted many people coming from East (Phoenicians, Jews and Arabs), South (Sub-Saharan Africans) and North (Romans, Andalusians). It is served not only at mealtimes but all through the day, and it is especially a drink of hospitality, commonly served whenever there are guests. 9800 (2015) Adjusted net saving (current US dollars) 21636146618.4391 (2016) Adjusted net savings per capita . On 20 December 1777, Morocco's Sultan Mohammed III declared that American merchant ships would be under the protection of the sultanate and could thus enjoy safe passage. The most notable violence occurred in Oujda where Moroccans attacked French and other European residents in the streets. Morocco - Morocco - Economy: As is true in many former African colonies, the Moroccan economy remains heavily dependent on the export of raw materials. Morocco produces enough food for domestic consumption except for grains, sugar, coffee and tea. [26] A recent publication has suggested that there is evidence for even earlier human habitation of the area: Homo sapiens fossils that had been discovered in the late 2000s near the Atlantic coast in Jebel Irhoud were recently dated to roughly 315,000 years ago. Corrections? It is the only African country with coastal exposure to both the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Agadir, Essaouira, El Jadida, and Larache are among the important fishing harbors. [131] A sizeable portion of the population is identified as Haratin and Gnawa (or Gnaoua), West African or mixed race descendants of slaves, and Moriscos, European Muslims expelled from Spain and Portugal in the 17th century. France allowed Mohammed V to return in 1955, and the negotiations that led to Moroccan independence began the following year. Also read article about Morocco from Wikipedia. They renamed it as Casa Branca in 1575. Pork consumption is forbidden in accordance with Sharia, religious laws of Islam. [41][42][43] In the beginning of the American Revolution, American merchant ships in the Atlantic Ocean were subject to attack by the Barbary pirates. Some 350,000 civilians were reported as being involved in the "Green March". Text taken from UNESCO Science Report: towards 2030, 431–467, UNESCO, UNESCO Publishing. Morocco covers an area of 274,460 square miles and has a population of approximately 35.7 million. In 1991, a ceasefire agreement was reached, but the issue of sovereignty remained unresolved. The most common is whole grain coarse ground or white flour bread. It is the first phase of what is planned to eventually be a 1,500 kilometeres (930 mi) high-speed rail network in Morocco. It is served to guests, and it is impolite to refuse it. It runs through the strike mission to Morocco where he, Luke Davis, and Koa Smith score back-to-back swells of massive right tubes until Kemper goes over the handlebars in a heavy barrel and straight into a rock. 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