Lifestyle
Ten (10) Things You May Not Know about Morocco
Morocco is an African country with a Muslim-dominated population.
It is located in the northern part of the country, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, and is distinguished by its Berber, Arabian, and European cultural influences.
Here are ten(10) things to know about Morocco, especially if you are planning to travel there:
1. Population
The population of Morocco is estimated at 37 million.
2. Land size
Morocco’s land has a total area of 710,850 km² (274,461 mi²) and a total coastline of 1,835 km (1,140.2 mi). It is the 18th biggest country in Africa and in terms of area ranked 40th worldwide. More than half of all residents (65%) live within cities.
3. Most popular occupation
Up to 40% of the Moroccan labor force is employed in agriculture, the same percentage is employed in services and about 20% work in industry.
As of 2023, people employed in Morocco in the field of executive management and change received the highest average salary of 104,000 U.S. dollars per year. Program and project management professionals followed, with 80,000 U.S. dollars of average annual earnings.
4. Tourist attractions
- Meknes – The Ninth Century Medina
- Fes – The cultural capital
- Asilah – Sandy Beaches And Prolonged City Walls
- High Atlas – Paradise For Trekkers
- Essaouira (Mogador) – For GOT Lovers!
- Chefchaouen – Painted Ambiance
- Sahara Desert – Glance Sunset Over Dunes
- Rabat – Stunning Capital City
- Casablanca – Modernity Yet Cultured
- Ouarzazate – Arid Desert Sights
- Marrakech – Bustling City With A Large Medina
- Tinghir – Morocco’s Crown Jewel
- Marrakech – The Red City
- Agadir – Thriving Seaside Resort Town
- Fez – The Old Maghreb City
- Oudaias Kasbah – Nation’s Most Picturesque Region
- Tangier – European-Looking Moroccan City
- Dades Valley – Panoramic Sights
- Aït Ben Haddou – Ancient Ruins
- Rose Valley – Fragrance All Around
- Dakhla – Kitesurfing Hub
- Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou
5. Culture
Even though Morocco is located in Africa, it is also a member of the Arab League – so it officially belongs to both cultural spheres.
6. Language
De jure, the two official languages are Standard Arabic and Standard Moroccan Berber. Moroccan Arabic (known as Darija) is by far the primary spoken vernacular and lingua franca, whereas Berber languages serve as vernaculars for significant portions of the country.
7. Most mosques are off-limits to non-Muslims
The Moroccan minister of Islamic affairs in 2022 said the country needs to build 200 mosques every year.
“The construction of new mosques aims at keeping pace with the country’s demographic growth and urban expansion,” Ahmed Toufiuq said during a celebration of Mosques’ Day in the Moroccan capital city of Rabat.
His ministry seeks to build “80 mosques in the next five years,” he added, calling for donors “to support the government in building 1,000 mosques over the same five-year period.”
“There are currently a total of 2,216 closed mosques, 723 of which are in the process of renovation for reopening,” Toufiq pointed out.
There are some 51,000 mosques in Morocco, 72 per cent of which are located in the countryside, the minister noted.
8. Many Moroccans are multilingual
It is not unusual to find Moroccans switching between languages mid-sentence during conversations. They understand Berber, Arab, French, and Spanish.
9. Popular drink
The mint tea, lovingly referred to as Moroccan or Berber “whiskey” is the national drink of Morocco. It is brewed green tea with a handful of mint leaves and a ton of sugar.
10. Popular spice
Cumin is one of the main spices used in Moroccan cooking. This pungent powder is used to flavor everything from tagines to mechoui (slow-roasted lamb).
Cumin is used as a condiment on most Moroccan tables, along with salt and chili. It’s also a popular natural remedy for diarrhea.
Disclaimer
The information in this article was curated from online sources. NewsWireNGR or its editorial team cannot independently verify all details.
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