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General Information
Area: 710,850 sq km (274,461 sq miles).
Population: 28,238,000 (official estimate 1999).
Population Density: 39.7 per sq km.
Capital: Rabat. Population: 1,385,872 (1994).
GEOGRAPHY: Morocco is located on the westernmost tip of north Africa, bordering Algeria to the east and Mauritania to the south and southeast, the Atlantic ocean to the west and the Mediterranean to the north. Running through the middle of the country is the Atlas mountain range, which leads to the fertile plains and sandy beaches of the Atlantic coast. The Middle Atlas range sweeps up from the south, rising to over 3000m (9850ft), covered with woodlands of pine, oak and cedar, open pastureland and small lakes. The Rif Mountains run along the north coast. The ports of Ceuta (Sebta) and Melilla on the north coast are administered by Spain.
Government: Constitutional monarchy since 1956. Gained independence from France in 1956. Head of State: King Mohammed VI since 1999. Head of Government: Prime Minister Driss Jettou since October 2002.
Language: The official language is Arabic, but Berber is spoken by a large minority. French is widely spoken throughout the country, except in the northern regions where Spanish is more predominant. English is also understood, particularly in the north and the main tourist areas.
Religion: Predominantly Muslim with Jewish and Christian minorities. Morocco’s population and culture stems from a cross-section of origins including Berbers, Arabs, Moors and Jews.
Time: GMT.
Electricity: 110/220 volts AC, 50Hz, depending on age and location of building.
Communications:
Telephone
IDD is available. Country code: 212. Outgoing international code: 00.
Mobile telephone
GSM 900 networks exist. Main operators include Itisalat Maroc Telecom (website: www.iam.ma) and Medi Telecom (website: www.meditel.ma). Coverage is mainly available in the cities in the west of Morocco.
Fax
Available in hotels.
Telegram
Facilities are available throughout the country at main post offices.
Internet
Access is widely available in business centres, hotels and in Internet cafes. ISPs include Menara (website: www.iam.ma/internet) and Jaweb (website: www.jaweb.ma).
Post
Airmail to Europe takes up to one week and can be unreliable. Post offices are open from Mon-Fri 0830-1200 and 1430-1830, Sat 0830-1400.
Press
Daily newspapers are published in French and Arabic. The main French newspapers are Le Matin du Sahara (website: www.lematin.ma), L’Opinion and Al Bayane (website: www.albayane.ma). The main Arabic newspapers are Al Alam and Al Maghrib. A monthly magazine, Success, is published in English.
BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change.
BBC (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice):
Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov):
Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.
Terms and Conditions apply.
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