Morocco is in many ways a country apart.
It nestles on the northwestern tip of Africa, separated from the rest of the
continent by the towering Atlas Mountains and by the Sahara Desert.
Its climate, geography, and history are all more closely related to the
Mediterranean
than to the rest of Africa, and for this
reason visitors are often struck by the odd
sensation of having not quite reached Africa in Morocco.
In the north, its fine beaches, lush highland
valleys, and evocative
old cities reinforce this impression, yet, as one moves south and east,
into and over the starkly beautiful ranges of the Atlases,
Morocco's Mediterranean character melts away like a mirage.
The Sahara stretches out to the horizon, and mysterious kasbahs beckon.
(For your information, a kasbah, or Casbah was a lush garden inside the walled Sultan's palace.
Once the private inner sanctum of the Sultan and his concubines, they are now open to the public.
"Come with me to the kasbah" doesn't have quite the same romantic promise as in days gone by!)
Morocco is situated on the extreme northwestern corner of Africa and is bordered
by Mauritania and Algeria, both to the south and east.
Morocco's varied geography includes no less than four
separate mountain ranges,
in addition to lush river valleys, beautiful sandy coasts, and wide expanses of desert.
The three most prominent mountain ranges, which run parallel to each other from
the southwest to the northeast, are the Middle Atlas, the High Atlas, and the Anti-Atlas.
Morocco's history began with the Berbers, the aboriginal people who have
inhabited the country since the end of the 2nd millennium BC.
Rome extended its rule over the area after defeating Carthage in 146 BC,
and testimony to its presence still exists in the fine
Roman ruins at Volubilis.
As Rome fell into decline Morocco was invaded first by the Vandals and then,
in the 7th century, by the Arabs.
Although external Arab rule lasted little more than a century, the arrival of
Islam proved to be a permanent addition to Moroccan culture.
By the 15th century Spain and Portugal began to intrude into Morocco,
after having expelled the Moors from their own lands.
Although Morocco successfully repulsed these invasions, the tide of European
imperialism eventually proved too great.
By the middle of the 19th century Morocco's strategic importance had become
evident to all of the European powers, and they engaged in a protracted
struggle for possession of the country.
Finally, in 1911, France was formally acknowledged as
protector of the greater
part of the country, with Spain receiving a number of isolated locales.
French rule came to an end in 1953, although its cultural influence on
Morocco remains strong even today. (French is still widely spoken).
Until recently the country was ruled by King Hassan II, who had weathered
a number of attempted coups in past decades.
Hassan seemed to be leading Morocco toward both long-term stability
and a greater degree of economic prosperity.
Time will tell if his successor will carry on in his footsteps.
For a more detailed map click here
These maps are big, so be
patient.
Parts of this text were borrowed from other sources.
