Surface: 446.550 km²
Population: 27.550.000 inhabitants
Density of population: 50 inhabitants/km²
Capital: Rabat (1.494.000 inhabitants)
Official language: Arabian
Official currency: Dirham
Imported products: car pieces, chemical products, petroleum, constructions materials
Exported products: phosphates, petroleum products, fish and agricultural products
Brut Intern Product: 33 million $
State type: Kingdom

Geographical Characteristics
80% of the country's surface is represented by mountains and the only depressions regions are in the rivers' valleys along ocean's coast. The main depression in the north is in Moulaya River's Valley. The northern chain of mountains called Rif is near Mediterranean Sea. In the south are Middle Atlas Mountains and after this High Atlas Mo untains which have a maximum altitude of 4.165 m in Toubkal Peak and in the south of this the Anti Atlas Mountains which are the north border of Sahara Plateau.

Climate
The south region of Morocco is practically out of rain with summer temperatures very high in day and winter nights very cold. The highest regions are covered with snow in the winter. The north regions have Mediterranean climate. The medium temperatures in Rabat are 13°C in January and 22°C in July and the total rainfall is 56 cm per year.

Agriculture
Over 40% of the people work in agriculture, 19% of the country's surface is cultivated and 47% are grasslands. Agriculture and fishing brings 36% of the export incomes. The grain, corn and the barley are the main cultivated plants. They export tomatoes, olive oil and citric fruits. Five millions ha are covered with forests and they use wood for producing lumber, constructions materials tannin and wood-coal.

Mining and Industry
Morocco is one of the greatest producers of phosphates in the world with a production of 20 millions tones per year. The mines are near Khourigba and Youssoufia. There also important deposits of petroleum, coal, iron, zinc, magnum and salt. The main industries are based on agricultural products: leather, textiles, fish and fruits. They have also industries for processing the petroleum and a chemical products industry.

Western Sahara
This territory belonged in the past to Spain but in 1976 Morocco and Mauritania shared it. In 1979 Mauritania quit its rights and Morocco took the both sections. The Nationalist Party Polisario from this territory wants the independency so there are some fights here which caused lost of human lives. The total surface has 266.769 km² and most of it is desert. The total number of people is 185.00 inhabitants and most of them are nomad shepherds. They cultivate some cereals and vegetables but most of the food is imported. Fishing and extracting of phosphates are the main occupations.

Cities
The capital of the country is Rabat (1.494.000 inhabitants) and is an important cultural and commercial center. The biggest city in Morocco is Casablanca an old city with 2.990.000 inhabitants which is the greatest commercial, industrial and cultural center. Tourism is also very developed here and brings important incomes.

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Tags: arabian, dirham, rabat, kingdom, mediterranean sea, moulaya	[edit tags]

Date Added: 12 December '06

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