Geography of Morocco

The Geography of Morocco

• Location: Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Western Sahara, slightly larger than California

• Area:
total: 446,550 sq km
land: 446,300 sq km
water: 250 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

The High Atlas Mountains, Morocco

• Natural resources: phosphates, iron ore, manganese, lead, zinc, fish, salt

Moroccan Lead

• Environment issues include: land degradation, soil erosion resulting from farming of
marginal areas, overgrazing, destruction of vegetation. Water supplies were also
contaminated by raw sewage; siltation of reservoirs; and oil pollution of coastal waters.

• Population: 33,757,175 (July 2007 est.)

• Geographic Coordinates: 32 00 N, 5 00 W

• Natural Hazards: northern mountains geologically unstable and subject to earthquakes; periodic droughts

• Major Infectious Diseases: food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, and hepatitis

• 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

• National Holiday: Throne Day (accession of King MOHAMED VI to the throne), 30 July (1999)

The Moroccan Flag

The Moroccan Coat of Arms