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About Morocco, North Africa
The Kingdom of Morocco is
located in Northern Africa,
bordering the Atlantic Ocean and
the Mediterranean Sea. Slightly
larger than California, with a
similar lengthy coastline (3,500
km) and separated from Europe by
the strait of Gibraltar, Morocco
is one of Africa's top five
travel destinations. The country
has a population of over
30,600,000, and while Arabic is
the official language, French is
often the language of business,
government and diplomacy.
Morocco received its
independence from France in
1956. (see map)
Area: total: 446,550 sq km;
land: 446,300 sq km
Climate: Mediterranean, becoming
more extreme in the interior
Terrain: northern coast and
interior are mountainous with
large areas of bordering
plateaus, intermontane valleys,
and rich coastal plains
Elevation extremes: lowest
point: Sebkha Tah -55 m ;
highest point: Jbel Toubkal
4,165 m
Natural resources: phosphates,
iron ore, manganese, lead, zinc,
fish, salt
Land use: arable land: 21% ,
permanent pastures: 47%
forests and woodland: 20% ,
Irrigated land: 12,580 sq km
(1993 est.)
Environment - current issues:
land degradation/desertification
(soil erosion resulting from
farming of marginal areas,
overgrazing, destruction of
vegetation); water supplies
contaminated by raw sewage;
siltation of reservoirs; oil
pollution of coastal waters
Environment - international
agreements: party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes,
Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test
Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
Ship Pollution, Wetlands,
Whaling signed, but not
ratified: Environmental
Modification, Law of the Sea
Ethnic groups: Arab-Berber
99.1%, other 0.7%, Jewish 0.2%
Religions: Muslim 98.7%,
Christian 1.1%, Jewish 0.2%
Languages: Arabic (official),
Berber dialects, French often
the language of business,
government, and diplomacy
Government type: constitutional
monarchy
Capital: Rabat
Administrative divisions: 37
provinces and 2 wilayas*; Agadir,
Al Hoceima, Azilal, Beni Mellal,
Ben Slimane, Boulemane,
Casablanca*, Chaouen, El Jadida,
El Kelaa des Srarhna, Er
Rachidia, Essaouira, Fes, Figuig,
Guelmim, Ifrane, Kenitra,
Khemisset, Khenifra, Khouribga,
Laayoune, Larache, Marrakech,
Meknes, Nador, Ouarzazate, Oujda,
Rabat-Sale*, Safi, Settat, Sidi
Kacem, Tanger, Tan-Tan, Taounate,
Taroudannt, Tata, Taza, Tetouan,
Tiznit . note: three additional
provinces of Ad Dakhla (Oued
Eddahab), Boujdour, and Es Smara
as well as parts of Tan-Tan and
Laayoune fall within
Moroccan-claimed
Executive branch: chief of
state: King MOHAMED VI (since 23
July 1999)
head of government: Prime
Minister Abderrahmane YOUSSOUFI
(since 14 March 1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
appointed by the monarch
Diplomatic representation in the
US:
chief of mission: Ambassador
Abdullah MAAROUFI
chancery: 1601 21st Street NW,
Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 462-7979
through 7982
FAX: [1] (202) 265-0161
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from
the US:
Chief of mission: Ambassador Ms.
Margaret DeB. TUTWILER (since 11
Jul. 2001)
Embassy: 2 Avenue de Mohamed El
Fassi, Rabat
Mailing address: PSC 74, Box 3,
APO AE 90718
telephone: [212] (37) 76 22 65
FAX: [212] (37) 76 56 61
Consulate(s) general: Casablanca
Flag description: red with a
green pentacle (five-pointed,
linear star) known as Solomon's
seal in the center of the flag;
green is the traditional color
of Islam
atural hazards: northern
mountains geologically unstable
and subject to earthquakes;
periodic droughts
Western Sahara;
decentralization/regionalization
law passed by the legislature in
March 1997 creating many new
provinces/regions; specific
details and scope of the
reorganization not yet available
Independence: 2 March 1956 (from
France)
National holiday: Throne Day
(accession of King MOHAMED VI to
the throne), 30 July (1999)
Constitution: 10 March 1972,
revised 4 September 1992,
amended (to create bicameral
legislature) September 1996
Legal system: based on Islamic
law and French and Spanish civil
law system; judicial review of
legislative acts in
Constitutional Chamber of
Supreme Court
Industries: phosphate rock
mining and processing, food
processing, leather goods,
textiles, construction, tourism
Agriculture - products: barley,
wheat, citrus, wine, vegetables,
olives; livestock
Exports: $7.6 billion (f.o.b.,
2000 est.)
Currency: Moroccan dirham (MAD)
, Currency code: MAD
Exchange rates: Moroccan dirhams
per US dollar - 10.590 (January
2001), 10.626 (2000), 9.804
(1999), 9.604 (1998), 9.527
(1997), 8.716 (1996)
Exports - partners: France 35%,
Spain 9%, UK 8%, Germany 7%, US
5% (1999) Imports: $12.2 billion
(f.o.b., 1999 est.) commodities:
phosphates and fertilizers, food
and beverages, minerals
Imports - partners: France 32%,
Spain 12%, Italy 7%, Germany 6%,
UK 6% (1999) commodities:
semiprocessed goods, machinery
and equipment, food and
beverages, consumer goods, fuel
Transportation
Railways: total: 1,907 km.
standard gauge: 1,907 km 1.435-m
gauge (1,003 km electrified; 540
km double-track) (2001)
Highways: total: 57,847 km
paved: 30,254 km (including 327
km of expressways) , unpaved:
27,593 km (1998)
Ports and harbors: Agadir, El
Jadida, Casablanca, El Jorf
Lasfar, Kenitra, Mohammedia,
Nador, Rabat, Safi, Tangier;
also Spanish-controlled Ceuta
and Melilla
Airports: 69 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 26
Heliports: 1 (2000 est.)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 27,
FM 25, shortwave 6 (1998),
Radios: 6.64 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
35 (plus 66 repeaters), (1995)
Televisions:3.1 million (1997)
Internet country code: .ma
Internet Service Providers
(ISPs): 8 (2000)
Internet users: 120,000 (1999)
Above details are from World
Factbook (US source)
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