77 Facts About Morocco

Morocco, a country in North Africa bordering the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, is known for its Berber, Arabian, and European cultural influences.

The medina of Marrakesh, a mazelike mediaeval quarter, provides entertainment in its Djemaa el-Fna square and souks (marketplaces) selling ceramics, jewellery, and metal lanterns.

The Kasbah of the Udayas in Rabat is a 12th-century royal fort overlooking the water.

Morocco is only slightly larger than the state of California at over 172,000 square miles. Moroccan landscapes are as diverse as those of California, with deserts, mountains, lush forests, and beautiful coastlines.

Morocco's elevation extremes span a wide range. Jebel Toubkal, at 13,665 feet above sea level, is the country's highest point. Sebkha Tah is the lowest point, at 180 feet below sea level.

Morocco's population continues to grow. This is due, in part, to improved health care, food resources, and sanitation practises. From less than 6 million in 1921 to 32 million in 2011, the population increased from less than 6 million to 32 million.

The first inhabitants of what would become Morocco were immigrants fleeing the Saharan region, which was drying up and turning to desert. They fled to the Atlas Mountains, and then to the coast. Other migrants from the region joined them, laying the groundwork for the Amazigh (Berber) culture.

The agricultural sector employs nearly 45% of Morocco's workforce. Unfortunately, only about 19% of the country's land is suitable for farming. This is due to droughts which occur about once every three years.

Morocco has begun developing a new irrigation system in response to the increasing frequency of drought years. This system will provide a consistent water supply to over 2.5 million acres, boosting agricultural output.

Morocco's forests are one of its most important natural resources. The country can meet its entire timber demand, and cork and paper pulp are exported to other countries.

Other natural resources in Morocco include phosphates, which are used in plant fertilisers, and chemical compounds. Morocco is home to two-thirds of the world's phosphate reserves.

Morocco's political, social, and spiritual life is heavily influenced by Islam. Muslims constitute nearly 99% of Morocco's population.

From the age of seven to thirteen, Moroccan children are required to attend government-run primary schools.

Sharif Mohammad al-Idrissi, born in Morocco in 1100, began travelling extensively in North Africa, Spain, and the Middle East when he was in his teens. He gathered geographic information from the areas he visited while travelling. He used that knowledge to become a well-known mapmaker. He updated and corrected many existing Arab, Greek, and Roman maps.

Morocco was the first country to recognise the United States of America as a sovereign country.

Morocco gained independence in 1956, but its first constitution was not drafted until 1962.

The Moroccan government is known as a Parliamentary Constitutional Monarchy. This means that the King is the head of state, while the Prime Minister is in charge of the actual government.

The Moroccan King is the only monarch in a Muslim country who serves as both the religious leader of the country and the head of the government.

Morocco's flag is a solid red background with a five-pointed star. The Seal of Sulayman is the name given to this star.

Morocco formally joined the United Nations on November 12, 1956.

Morocco's legal system is based on Islamic law as well as Spanish and French civil law.

In Morocco, technology is advancing at a rapid pace, with cell phones being the most popular method of accessing the Internet. In fact, while Morocco has a population of nearly 33 million people, there are 44 million active cell phones.

The Noor 1 Project debuted in the Moroccan city of Ouarzazate in 2015. This project is a complex of four mega solar plants linked together. It is as large as Rabat itself and follows the sun as it moves across the sky. The project has the capacity to generate 580 megawatts of electricity.

Morocco's beaches, desert oases, towering mountains, and ancient cities have always drawn visitors. Morocco has now developed Plan Azure to take advantage of everything the country has to offer. Six coastal areas have been designated as tourist zones. Every zone has a different theme, such as sports, culture, or eco-tourism.

Morocco's emphasis on developing its tourism industry has been extremely successful. In 2013, more than ten million tourists took advantage of all that Morocco has to offer.

The Atlas Mountains, one of Morocco's most beautiful features, collect and store rainwater and snowmelt, supplying the verdant valleys below.

A "Blue Flag" rating is given to areas around the world that are deemed to be sustainable and eco-friendly. By 2015, 23 Moroccan beaches had earned this designation for water quality, wastewater management, and environmental education.

The largest wind farm in Africa is located along the Atlantic coast in southwestern Morocco. It began producing electricity in 2014 and is part of the country's plan to generate 45% of its energy needs from renewable sources by 2020.

Morocco's population has only recently shifted from primarily rural to primarily urban. According to the most recent census, 58% of Moroccans now live in cities and towns.

Although many Moroccan roads are little more than dirt tracks, the country's network of improved roads is expanding on an annual basis. There were 1,118 miles of actual highway in 2015, with an additional 600 miles under construction.

Morocco's University of Al-Karaouine is known for Islamic studies and theology and is recognised as the world's oldest existing educational institution. It was established in 859 CE.

Morocco has several official languages, the most common of which are Moroccan Arabic (Darija), Modern Standard Berber, and French. However, Morocco has a number of other living languages. Spanish, Berber languages, and English are among them.

Morocco has participated in every Olympic Games, both winter and summer, since 1960. Moroccan athletes have won medals in track and field, boxing, marathons, and sprints.

Moroccans enjoy a variety of sports and have begun to capitalise on this by offering tourists vacation opportunities that include golf, hunting, horseback riding, water sports, shooting, fishing, and a variety of adventure vacations.

Moroccans have the option of observing three different new years. January 1st in the Gregorian calendar, Yennayer in the Amazigh calendar, or Fatih Muharram in the Islamic calendar.

Rabat is Morocco's capital. With a population of about 1.7 million people, it is one of the country's largest cities.

Morocco has become a melting pot of cultures as a result of its geographical location. Emigrants from the Sahara, the far east, Spain, France, and other European countries have all left their imprint on Moroccan culture.

Although the majority of Spain is located across the Strait of Gibraltar from Morocco, two Spanish territories are located on Morocco's northern coast: Ceuta and Melilla.

Earthquakes are uncommon in Morocco, but they do occur. More than 12,000 people were killed in an earthquake in Agadir in 1960. In 2004, an earthquake in Al Hoceima killed over 500 people.

Every year, the Moroccan government plants thousands of acres of forests to combat the encroaching Sahara desert. Hardy trees, such as the Argan tree, aid in the retention of fertile topsoil.

Morocco's literacy rate lags far behind that of the majority of other countries in the region. Only about half of the population can read and write.

Despite the fact that almost everyone in Morocco is Muslim, the majority practises a more moderate form of Islam. This has occasionally caused more conservative Muslims to look down on Moroccans.

Moroccan culture and family life revolve around food. Their cuisine is well-known throughout the world, thanks to the abundance of fruits, vegetables, and spices available in local markets. 

Moroccan music, like so many other aspects of Moroccan culture, is a wonderful blend of European, Arabian, and African sounds and instrumentation.

Morocco has eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites due to its history and geographic location as a crossroads.

Despite its difficulties with economic growth and stability, Morocco has the sixth highest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of any African country.

Moroccans celebrate "Throne Day" on July 30th each year. This holiday commemorates the accession of their current king to the throne.

Morocco established the Tarfaya Wind Farm in order to address the country's energy needs in areas where hydroelectric generators and nuclear power plants are not feasible. This is Africa's largest facility of its kind.

Visitors from the United Kingdom, the European Union, Japan, Australia, Canada, or the United States may stay in Morocco for up to 90 days without a visa.

Morocco has a unique geographical situation in that it borders both the Atlantic and Mediterranean oceans. That is only true of two other countries.

Morocco is a popular location for filming. It is home to the world's second largest film set.

On a clear day, you can see all the way from Morocco to Spain across the nine-mile-wide Strait of Gibraltar.

Morocco's tourism industry is significant, with over 10 million visitors per year, the majority of whom are from European countries.

There is a "National Animal" in Morocco. It's a Barbary Lion.

Morocco is a member of the African Union, the Arab League, and the United Nations, and the United States has designated it as a Major Non-NATO Ally.

Morocco's world-famous dates are one of its most popular exports. They export over 90,000 tonnes of them each year to locations all over the world.

Morocco is home to Africa's highest ski resort. Oukaimeden is located in the Atlas Mountains at elevations ranging from 8500 to 10,500 feet.

Morocco's architecture, like so many other aspects of the country, is the result of many influences. There are strong elements of French, Arabic, Portuguese, and Spanish architecture in addition to Berber and Islamic influences.

Morocco is the world's leading producer and exporter of sardines.

A "djellaba" is the Moroccan national costume. It's a one-piece coverall with a hood for men and women. Some are embellished with incredibly detailed and ornate needlework.

Agadir's port city has several ports. A main trading port, two fishing ports, and a marina port for leisure boating are all available.

For romantics visiting Morocco, be aware that the liver, not the heart, is the ultimate symbol of love.

Morocco has a population of around 36 million people. The majority of them live in the cities.

Green tea with mint is the most popular beverage, served with almost every meal. When some British merchant ships became stranded off the coast of Morocco in the nineteenth century, tea became popular. They had no choice but to unload their tea cargo.

The Festival of the Roses is held every May in the Dades Valley to commemorate the annual rose harvest. The actual dates of the celebration vary according to the harvest.

Morocco has 22 television channels to choose from. Traditional cookery-related programmes are among the most popular.

It's not uncommon for older Berber women to have multiple tattoos covering their face and neck. Originally, this was a form of tribal identification.

"Allah, Al Watan, Al-Malik" is Morocco's national anthem. This translates into "God, Homeland, King".

A "Tajine" is a shallow, covered ceramic cooking pot. The term is also applied to the food prepared in this one-of-a-kind pot.

Although the Fez is a type of hat named after a Moroccan city, it was mostly worn by the Ottomans, who never gained control of Morocco.

Archeological evidence suggests that humans have lived in Morocco since the Paleolithic era. This was back when the now-arid region was a lush savannah.

Barbary pirates attacked American merchant ships during the American Revolutionary War. In December 1777, Morocco's ruler, Sultan Mohammed the Third, declared that these ships were now under his protection and should be allowed to pass safely.

Casablanca's main landmark is the world's tallest minaret, which stands 689 feet tall.

Tangier, Morocco's oldest city, was occupied by the Phoenicians as early as 1600 BCE.

A crude stone carving was discovered in a Moroccan river bed in 1999. It is thought to be the oldest representation of the human form, dating back between 300,000 and 500,000 years. It is referred to as the Venus of Tan-Tan.

The Moroccan city of "Fez el-Bali" or "Old Fez" is the world's largest active mediaeval city.

Thuya wood, which can only be found in Morocco and around the western base of the Atlas Mountains, has been prized since Roman times. It has become a symbol of wealth after being used as the dashboard in Rolls Royce automobiles.