Guide To Morocco

Situated on the northwestern corner of Africa, Morocco is bordered with Algeria to the east and southeast, Mauritania to the south and to the west by the Atlantic Ocean.

The country is divided into three natural regions; the fertile northern coastal plaint along the Mediterranean which contains Er Rif, mountains varying in elevation up to about 8,000 ft; the rich plateaus and lowlands lying between the rugged Atlas mountains, which extend in three parallel ranges from the Atlantic coast in the southwest to Algeria and the Mediterranean in the northeast; and the semiarid area in southern and eastern Morocco, which merges into the Sahara Desert, The Atlas Mountains, with an average elevation of 11,000 ft, contain some of the highest peaks of North Africa, including Mt. Toubkal (13,665 ft), the highest of all. South of the Atlas lie the Anti-Atlas Mountains, with volcanic Mt. Siroua (10,000 ft).

Morocco has the most extensive river system in North Africa. Moroccan rivers generally flow northwestward to the Atlantic or southeastward toward the Sahara; the Moulouya is an exception, and flows 350 miles north-eastwards from the Atlas to the Mediterranean. Principal rivers with outlets in the Atlantic are the Oumer River, Sebou, Bou Regreg, Tensift, Draa and Sous. The Ziz and Gheris are the main rivers flowing southward towards the Sahara.

Lowest point: Sebkha Tah -55m
Highest point: Jebel Toubkal 4,165m

CLIMATE
The rugged mountain ranges and the Atlantic Ocean moderate the tropical heat of Morocco; the mean temperature is 16.4° to 23°C (62°F - 73°F) on the west coast and 10° to 27°C (50° - 81°F) in the interior., Temperature variations are small along the Atlantic coast, while the interior is characterized by extreme variations. The eastern slopes of the Atlas Mountains, which divert the moisture-laden Atlantic winds, have a rigorous pre-Saharan climate, while the western slopes are relatively cool and well watered. The rainy seasons are from October to November and from April to May. Maximum annual rainfall (30 to 40 inches) occurs in the northwest.

LOCAL TIME
Morocco is the same time as GMT

TRANSPORT & GETTING AROUND

 
Air/Flights:
There are five international airports in Morocco:
Casablanca (CMN) (Mohammed V)
Tangier (TNG) (Boukhalef Souahel)
Fez (FEZ)
Marrakech (RAK)
Rabat-Salé (RBA)

Morocco’s national airline is Royal Air Maroc (AT) (website: www.royalairmaroc.com). Other airlines serving Morocco are Ryanair, EasyJet, Air France, Alitalia, British Airways, KLM, Lufthansa and Swiss Airlines. Direct flights from all major European cities are fast and frequent.

Train:
The railway system is mostly concentrated in the north of the country, linking all the main towns. The service is modern, comfortable and fast.

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