Morocco Country Guide, Morocco Climate, Moroccan Regions, Visiting Morocco

 

Morocco Basic Facts

Official name:

Kingdom of Morocco — (al-Mamlaka al-Maghribiyya)

Political system:

Constitutional monarchy

Head of state:

King Mohammed VI

Area:

710,850 km²

Population:

33,750,000 (est. 2007)

Capital:

Rabat (1.6 million)

Biggest city and economic center:

Casablanca (3.4 million)

Languages:

Arabic (official), French (not official, but spoken nearly everywhere), Amazigh (Berber), Spanish (in the north, especially Tangier)

Currency:

Moroccan dirham (MAD)

Time zone:

UTC (GMT, without daylight saving time/summer time)

Internet TLD:

.ma

Official website:

www.maroc.ma

International dialing code:

+212

 

Passports:

To be able to visit Morocco, you need to have a valid passport. To avoid any unnecessary problems, make sure that your passport is valid for at least 6 months, or better yet, 1 year.

Climate:

Moroccan climate varies greatly from region to region. There is the Mediterranean climate on the north of Morocco, the humid but tempered climate on the north and south Atlantic coast, the cold and snowy Atlas Mountains, while the desert climate reigns in the south.

Winters in Morocco are cold, but don't be fooled: the sun is very strong and you'll feel it burning even during winter. Because of intense heat during summer, all floors in Moroccan houses and hotels are made from stone or marble. And there is often no heat available! Central heating is very rare. Therefore, if you are visiting Morocco sometimes between mid-October/November and April, take warm clothing too. You'll need it for the evenings and mornings. In winter, during daytime, it is not so cold if you are spending your time outside, under the intense Moroccan sun. Every year, hot and dry winds blow from the Sahara (usually only during a few days in August), which brings very hot desert air with it and it tends to raise the temperature to high levels. It is not recommended visiting the desert and the dunes during late spring and summer, unless you are a fan of extremely hot weather. The best time to visit Morocco is during April, May or September.

Drinking Water:

Morocco has generally good tap water (in major cities especially), but it is recommended that you give bottled water to children, if they are travelling with you, to prevent any diarrhea-related problems. There is an excellent choice of local bottled water available in Morocco (thanks to the Atlas Mountains), like Ain Saiss, Sidi Ali, Sidi Harazem, Oulmes, etc, that is very cheap too. A big (1.5 l) bottle costs around 4-5 Dh.

Electricity:

The electrical current is of the same standard as the one used throughout Europe: 220 V, 50 Hz.

Location:

Morocco has always been a crossroads between Africa, Europe and the Middle East, and nowhere evokes this sense more than Tangier, that faded poster boy for Europe’s often decadent but sometimes creative presence on Moroccan shores. From Tangier, turn south along Morocco’s Atlantic Coast and you’ll be accompanied by a sea breeze that massages the ramparts of wonderful cities whose names – Essaouira, Casablanca, Asilah, Rabat – and atmosphere carry a whiff of African magic. Travel east along the Mediterranean coast and you’ll be bidden into enchanting towns and the mountains of the Rif. Morocco is sensory overload at its most intoxicating, from the scents and sounds that permeate the medinas of Fès and Marrakesh to the astonishing sights of the landscape.

Morocco Regions:

Morocco is divided into sixteen regions, which in turn are subdivided into sixty-two provinces and prefectures. Each of these regions has geographical and historical features which make it interesting.

Chaouia-Ouardigha - Situated in north-central Morocco, the region of Chaouia-Ouardigha has a population of more than 1.6 million. The city of Settat is the capital of the region.

Doukkala-Abda - Situated in west-Central Morocco, the region of Doukkala-Abda has a population of close to 2 million. The capital city of the region is Safi.

Fes-Boulemane - Situated in northern Morocco, the region of Fes-Boulemane is home to more than 1.5 million people. The capital city of the region is the popular tourist destination of Fez.

Gharb-Chrarda-Béni Hssen - Situated in north-western Morocco, the region of Gharb-Chrarda-Béni Hssen has a population of more than 1.8 million. The capital city of the region is Kenitra.

Grand Casablanca - Situated along the coast of north-western Morocco, the region of Grand Casablanca, with a population close to 3.9 million, is the most densely populated region of Morocco. The capital city of the region is the popular tourist destination of Casablanca.

Laâyoune-Boujdour-Sakia El Hamra - Most of this region falls within Western Sahara, which is subject to an ongoing dispute with regard to who has jurisdiction over the region. Around 260,000 people live in the region which has El Aaiun as its capital city.

Guelmim-Es Semara - With the southern half of the region of Guelmim-Es Semara falling into the disputed territory of Western Sahara, the region is home to around half a million people and has Guelmim as its capital city.

Oued Ed-Dahab-Lagouira - Situated in what Morocco considered to be the southern part of the country, the region of Oued Ed-Dahab-Lagouira is situated in the disputed territory of Western Sahara. The region has a population of around 99,000 and the coastal city of Dakhla is its capital.

Marrakech-Tensift-El Haouz - Situated in central Morocco, the population of the region of Marrakech-Tensift-El Haouz is around 3.1 million. The capital of the region is the popular tourist destination of Marrakech.

Meknès-Tafilalet - Situated in north-central Morocco, on the border of Algeria, the region of Meknès-Tafilalet is home to more than 2.1 million people. The capital city of the region is Meknès.

Oriental - Situated in north-eastern Morocco, with Algeria and Spanish Melilla as neighbors, the region of Oriental has a population of close to 2 million and has Oujda as its capital city.

Rabat-Salé-Zemmour-Zaer - Situated in north-western Morocco, the region of Rabat-Salé-Zemmour-Zaer has a population of more than 2.3 million. The vibrant city of Rabat is the region’s capital, as well as being the capital of Morocco.

Tadla-Azilal - Situated in central Morocco, the region of Tadla-Azilal is home to nearly 1.5 million people and has Beni Mellal as its capital city.

Tangier-Tétouan - Situated in north-western Morocco, the region of Tangier-Tétouan has the Atlantic Ocean as its western border, with the Mediterranean Sea and Spain to its north. The population of the region is close to 2.5 million and has Tangier as its capital city.

Souss-Massa-Draâ - Situated in central Morocco, the region of Souss-Massa-Draâ is home to more than 3.1 million people. The capital city of the region is Agadir.

Taza-Al Hoceima-Taounate - Situated in northern Morocco, the region of Taza-Al Hoceima-Taounate has a population of about 1.8 million. The region’s capital city is Al Hoceima.