‘The intelligent man knows by seeing; the educated man, by explanation.’ —Moroccan proverb
Kingdom of Morocco
Rabat
Red background with a green five-pointed outlined star known as Solomon’s seal in the centre
‘Hymne Cherifien’
The same as Greenwich Mean Time
212
total: 446,550 sq km (172,413.9 sq miles)
land: 446,300 sq km (172,317.4 sq miles)
water : 250 sq km (96.5 sq miles)
Jebel Toubkal (4,165 m / 13,664.7 ft)
Located in northern Africa, Morocco is bordered by Algeria and the Western Sahara to its east and south. The North Atlantic Ocean is to the west and the Mediterranean Sea to the north separates it from Spain
Mediterranean climate
Fish, iron ore, lead, manganese, phosphates, salt and zinc
34,859,364 (July 2009 est.)
Arab-Berber (99.1 per cent), other (0.7 per cent), Jewish (0.2 per cent)
Muslim (98.7 per cent), Christian (1.1 per cent), Jewish (0.2 per cent)
Arabic
Constitutional monarchy
14 regions: Grand Casablanca, Chaouia-Ouardigha, Doukkala-Abda, Fes-Boulemane, Gharb-Chrarda-Beni Hssen, Guelmim-Es Smara, Marrakech-Tensift-Al Haouz, Meknes-Tafilalet, Oriental, Rabat-Sale-Zemmour-Zaer, Souss-Massa-Draa, Tadla-Azilal, Tanger-Tetouan, Taza-Al Hoceima-Taounate
Moroccan dirham (DH)
US$ 90.47 billion (2008 est.)
Barley, citrus fruits, olives, vegetables, wheat and wine
Livestock
Construction, food processing, leather goods, phosphate rock mining and processing, textiles as well as tourism
Clothing, crude minerals, fertilisers (including phosphates), fish, fruits, inorganic chemicals, petroleum products, transistors and vegetables
Crude petroleum, fabrics, gas and electricity, plastics, telecommunication equipment, transistors and wheat
Estimated total of 63, of which 25 have paved runways. The main international airport is Aeroport de Casablanca Mohammed V
Travel writer from the medieval ages who’s renowned for his work entitled Rihlah (‘Travels’).
Of Berber descent, he fought for Moroccan independence from Spain and France during the 1920s.
Singing sensation whose most famous song is ‘Maghlouba’.
French-language poet and editor whose controversial works have raised many political and sociological questions.
Award-winning author whose many books and articles about Moroccan culture have shed light on the changing role of women in the Muslim and Arab world.
Olympic Gold Medalist from Berkane, Morocco, who has set world records in 1,500 m, 2,000 m and one-mile races.