Morocco: Morocco Geography Profile

 Morocco is a nation of thirty-two million people in northern Africa, bordered by the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Western Sahara.

It has a strategic location along Strait of Gibraltar, the narrow gateway between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean opposite Spain. Morocco's northern coast and interior are mountainous (Rif Mountains and Atlas mountains) with large areas of bordering plateaus, intermontane valleys, and rich coastal plains.

The south and east of the country is dominated by the Sahara Desert. There are four enclaves on its Mediterranean coast which are administered by Spain, which Morocco contests.It also claims and administers Western Sahara whose sovereignty remains unresolved.

Morocco's major environmental issues include:

land degradation/desertification (soil erosion resulting from farming of marginal areas, overgrazing, destruction of vegetation);
water supplies contaminated by raw sewage;
siltation of reservoirs; and,
oil pollution of coastal waters.

Its northern mountains are geologically unstable and subject to earthquakes and the country is prone to periodic droughts.

Morocco is a nation of thirty-two million people in northern Africa, bordered by the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and mauritania.

It has a strategic location along Strait of Gibraltar, the narrow gateway between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean opposite Spain. Morocco's northern coast and interior are mountainous (Rif Mountains and Atlas mountains) with large areas of bordering plateaus, intermontane valleys, and rich coastal plains.

The south and east of the country is dominated by the Sahara Desert. There are four enclaves on its Mediterranean coast which are administered by Spain, which Morocco contests.It also claims and administers Western Sahara whose sovereignty remains unresolved.

Geography

Location: Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and mauritania

Geographic Coordinates: 32 00 N, 5 00 W

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

Terrain: Northern coast and interior are mountainous with large areas of bordering plateaus, intermontane valleys, and rich coastal plains. Its lowest point is Sebkha Tah (-55 metres) and its highest point is Jebel Toubkal (4165 metres).

Capital: Rabat - 1.77 million (2009)

Other major cities: Casablanca 3.245 million; Fes 1.044 million; Marrakech 909,000; Tangier 768,000 (2009)

Independence Date: 2 March 1956 (from France)

Legal System: based on Islamic law and French and Spanish civil law systems; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal (as of January 2003)

International Environmental Agreements

Morocco is party to international agreements on: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, and Whaling. It has signed, but not ratified an agreement on Environmental Modification.

Water

Total Renewable Water Resources: 29 cu km (2003)

Freshwater Withdrawal: Total: 12.6 cu km/yr (10% domestic, 3% industrial, 87% agricultural).

Per capita Freshwater Withdrawal: 400 cu m/yr (2000).

Access to improved sources of drinking water: 81% of population

Access to improved sanitation facilities: 69% of population

Agriculture

Agricultural Products: barley, wheat, citrus, wine, vegetables, olives; livestock

Irrigated Land: 14,450 sq km (2003)

Resources

Natural Resources: phosphates, iron ore, manganese, lead, zinc, fish, salt.