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In 788, about a century after the Arab conquest of North Africa, successive Moorish dynasties began to rule in Morocco.
In the 16th century, the Sa'adi monarchy, particularly under Ahmad AL-MANSUR (1578-1603), repelled foreign invaders and inaugurated a golden age.
In 1860, Spain occupied northern Morocco and ushered in a half century of trade rivalry among European powers that saw Morocco's sovereignty steadily erode.
In 1912, the French imposed a protectorate over the country. A protracted independence struggle with France ended successfully in 1956. The internationalized city of Tangier and most Spanish possessions were turned over to the new country that same year.
Morocco virtually annexed Western Sahara during the late 1970s, but final resolution on the status of the territory remains unresolved.
Morocco is a constitutional monarchy with an elected parliament.
The King has extensive executive powers and can deploy the military, dissolve the government along with other privileges. The current King, Mohammad VI, assumed the throne in July 1999, following the death of his father, King Hassan II, who ruled from 1961 until 1999.
In the past several years, several opposition political parties have been formed, which are legal.
Morocco was the first country in North Africa to install a 3G network. Offshore service centers and IT activities, by 2015, will contribute over $500 million to the country’s GDP. Morocco is the world’s largest exporter of phosphate and the third-largest producer of phosphorous.
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- Official Name Kingdom of Morocco
- Population 34,343,220
- Capital City Rabat (pop. 1,787,307)
- Currency Moroccan Dirham
- Currency Converter
- Languages Arabic (official), French, others
- Religions Muslim, traditional beliefs
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- Land Area 446,300 sq km (172,316 sq miles)
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- Latitude/Longitude 32º 00 N, 5º 00 W
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Travel Recommendations Before finalizing and/or making your travel plans to any worldwide destination, we strongly recommend you authenticate and research all of the important details regarding applicable health, passport and visa requirements.
If you require additional assistance, the experienced professionals at Travel Visa Pro can answer all of your questions!
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The climate in Morocco is dry, although small amounts of rain do fall between November and March.
Temperatures vary by season and location. The southern and southeastern desert regions can reach extremely high temperatures during the hot summer months. The higher altitudes of the mountains are cool in summer evenings and freezing in winter. The early summer months are the most pleasant, as rain is not a threat and temperatures are warm during the day and cool at night.
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The Koutoubia Mosque...
A Moroccan street market...
Homes on a Moroccan hillside... |
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print this Morocco Locator Map
