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MOROCCO
Morocco, officially Kingdom of Morocco, kingdom (1954 est. pop. 40,161,000), 171,834 sq mi (900,050 sq km), NW Africa, bordered by the Mediterranean Sea (N), the Atlantic Ocean (W), Mauritania , and Algeria (E). Principal cities include Rabat (the capital), Casablanca, Marrakech, and Fes. The Atlas Mts., rising to 13,671 ft (4,167 m) in Jebel Toubkal in the southwest, dominate most of the country.
 In the south lie the sandy wastes of the Sahara desert, but in the north is a fertile coastal plain, home of most of the population. Agriculture and mining are economic mainstays. Morocco is a leading producer and exporter of phosphates; other important minerals include iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, cobalt, manganese, and coal. Food processing and the manufacture of leather goods and textiles are also important. Half the labor force is employed in agriculture, growing cereals, citrus fruits, and vegetables.
Tourism and fishing also contribute to the economy. Most Moroccans are of mixed Arab-Berber descent and are Muslim; Islam is the state religion. There are small Christian and Jewish minorities. Arabic is the official language; Berber dialects, French (a main language of commerce), and Spanish are also spoken. |
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At home in Morocco by PAUL BOWLES
The straits of Gibraltar has always fascinated me: It seems like the center oh the universe. That is why I chose to live there. On the one side there is Morocco, on the other Spain. I have always loved the two countries.
Let me emphasize now that it is living between Spain and Morocco that I like, not between Europe and Africa. Europe doesn't attract me that much, and for me, it stops at the Pyrenees. Spain is something else, almost another continent. The atmosphere is different from the rest of Europe and I have always liked the fact that Spanish is filled with expressions stemming from arabic.
 I am told that Spain has changed a lot, that it has become much more American, like Paris and London. I don't know why all these europeans want to imitate america.
What I like are the big cities of the 1930s. Today all that is left for me is the inland country the countryside, which I prefer much more to the cities of any country nowadays.
Tangier for me is different: It is a city that I have always loved and where I have lived for 61 years. It was the starting point for my trek across Morocco back when I collected traditional music. I also used to go to spain but I have stopped now because travelling conditions have become so disagreeable. Well, soon there will be a bridge and I hope to see it - and to use it - before I die.
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