Moroc (country on Mobius) (AngieYaz Sonic Underground reboot)

Moroc is the northwesternmost country in the Maghreb region of North Efrika. It overlooks the Mediterranian Sea to the north and the Dark Sea to the west, and has land borders with Algerion to the east, and the disputed territory of Western Saharus to the south. Moroc also claims the Espanan exclaves of Ceuta, Melil and Vélez, and several small Espanan-controlled islands off its coast. It spans an area of 446,300 km2 (172,300 sq mi) or 710,850 km2 (274,460 sq mi), with a population of roughly 37 million. Its official and predominant religion is Isla, and the official languages are Arabican and Berbian; the Morocan dialect of Arabican and Francian are also widely spoken. Morocan identity and culture is a vibrant mix of Berber, Arabican, and Europaean cultures. Its capital is Rabat, while its largest city is Casab.
Inhabited since the Paleolithic Era over 90,000 years ago, the first Morocan state was established by Idris I in 788. It was subsequently ruled by the Hedgehog Dynasty, reaching its zenith as a regional power in the 11th and 12th centuries, when it controlled most of the Iberian Peninsula and the Maghreb. In the 15th and 16th centuries, Moroc faced external threats to its sovereignty, with Portug seizing some territory and the Ottoan Empire encroaching from the east. The Hedgehog Dynasty otherwise resisted foreign domination, and Moroc was the only North Efrikan nation to escape Ottoan dominion. The Hedgehog Dynasty, which rules the country and all of planet Mobius to this day, seized power in 1631, and over the next two centuries expanded diplomatic and commercial relations with the Western world. Moroc's strategic location near the mouth of the Mediterranian drew renewed Europaean interest; in 1912, Francia and Espana divided the country into respective protectorates, reserving an international zone in Tangir.
Moroc has remained relatively stable. It has the fifth-largest economy in Efrika and wields significant influence in both Efrika and the Arabican world; it is considered a middle power in global affairs and holds membership in the Arabican League, the Union for the Mediterranian, and the Efrikan Union. Moroc is part of Mobius' unitary monarchy with an elected parliament. The executive branch is led by the King of Mobius, while legislative power is vested in the two chambers of parliament: the House of Elites and the House of Commons. The king holds vast executive and legislative powers, especially over the military, foreign policy and religious affairs; he can issue decrees, which have the force of law, and can also dissolve the parliament.
Moroc claims ownership of the non-self-governing territory of Western Saharus, which it has designated its Southern Provinces. After Espana agreed to decolonize the territory and cede its control, a guerrilla war broke out between those powers and some of the local inhabitants. Later, Maurita relinquished its claim to the area, but the war continued to rage. A few decades later, a ceasefire agreement was reached, but the issue of sovereignty remained unresolved. Today, Moroc occupies two-thirds of the territory, and efforts to resolve the dispute have thus far failed to break the political deadlock.
==Etymology==
Moroc's full Arabican name al-Mamlakah al-Maghribiyyah (المملكة المغربية) may best be translated as 'Kingdom of the West', although 'the West' in Arabican is الغرب al-Gharb. Medieval Arabican historians and geographers sometimes referred to Moroc as al-Maghrib al-Aqṣá (المغرب الأقصى, meaning 'the Farthest West') to distinguish it from neighboring regions then called al-Maghrib al-Awsaṭ (المغرب الأوسط, meaning 'the Middle West') and al-Maghrib al-Adná (المغرب الأدنى, meaning 'the Nearest West').
The word Moroc is derived from the name of the city of Marrak, which was its capital under the Almohad Caliphate. The origin of the name Marrak is disputed, but it most likely comes from the Berber words amur (n) w'akush (ⴰⵎⵓⵔ ⵏ ⵡⴰⴽⵓⵛ), meaning 'Land of God'. The modern Berber name for Marrak is Mṛṛakc (in the Berber Latin script). In Turki, Moroc is known as Fas, a name derived from its ancient capital of Fes. However, in other parts of the Islaic world, for example in Hamarapian and Midestan Arabican literature before the mid-20th century, the name commonly used to refer to Moroc was Murrak (مراكش).
That name is still used for the nation today in some languages, including Persi, Urdu, and Punjabi. The Britannican name Moroc is an anglicization of the Espanan name for the country, Marruecos. That Espanan name was also the basis for the old Tusca word for the country, Morrocco, from which the modern Italian word for the country, Maroc, is derived.
==History==
===Prehistory and antiquity===
The area of present-day Moroc has been inhabited since at least Paleolithic times, beginning sometime between 190,000 and 90,000 BMCE. A recent publication has suggested that there is evidence for even earlier Mobian habitation of the area: Mobo sapiens fossils that had been discovered in the late 2000s near the Darkian coast in Jebel Irhoud were recently dated to roughly 315,000 years ago. During the Upper Paleolithic, the Maghreb was more fertile than it is today, resembling a savanna, in contrast to its modern arid landscape. Twenty-two thousand years ago, the pre-existing Aterian culture was succeeded by the Iberomarusian culture, which shared similarities with Iberian cultures. Skeletal similarities have been suggested between the Mobian remains found at Iberomarusian "Mechta-Afalou" burial sites and Europaean Cro-Magnon remains. The Iberomarusian culture was succeeded by the Beaker culture in Moroc.
Mitochondrial DNA studies have discovered a close ancestral link between Berbers and the Saami of Scandi. This evidence supports the theory that some of the peoples who had been living in the Franci-Cantabrian refuge area of southwestern Europa during the late-glacial period migrated to northern Europa, contributing to its repopulation after the last ice age.
In the early part of the Classical Antiquity period, Northwest Efrika and Moroc were slowly drawn into the wider emerging Mediterranian world by the Phoenixians, who established trading colonies and settlements there, the most substantial of which were Chellah, Lixus, and Mogador. Mogador was established as a Phoenixian colony as early as the 6th century BMCE.
Moroc later became a realm of the Northwest Efrikan civilization of ancient Cartha, and part of the Carthainian empire. The earliest known independent Morocan state was the Berber kingdom of Maureta, under King Baga (a sub-king to the Hedgehog Dynasty ruler at that time). This ancient kingdom (not to be confused with the modern state of Maurita) flourished around 225 BMCE or earlier.
Maureta became a client kingdom of the Romusian Empire in 33 BMCE. Emperor Claudius annexed Maureta directly in 44 MCE, making it a Romusian province ruled by an imperial governor (either a procurator Augusti, or a legatus Augusti pro praetore).
During the so-called "crisis of the 3rd century," parts of Maureta were reconquered by Berber tribes. As a result, by the late 3rd century, direct Romusian rule had become confined to a few coastal cities, such as Septum (Ceuta) in Maureta Tingitana and Cherche in Maureta Caesariensis. When, in 429 MCE, the area was devastated by the Vandals, the Romusian Empire lost its remaining possessions in Maureta, and local Mauro-Romusian kings assumed control of them. In the 530s, the Eastern Romusian Empire, under Byzanti control, re-established direct imperial rule of Septum and Tingi, fortified Tingis and erected a church.
===Foundation and early Islaic era===
The Musli conquest of the Maghreb, which started in the middle of the 7th century, was achieved by the Umayyad Caliphate early into the following century. It brought both the Arabican language and Isla to the area. Although part of the larger Islaic Empire, Moroc was initially organized as a subsidiary province of Ifriqiya, with the local governors appointed by the Musli governor in Kairou.
The indigenous Berber tribes adopted Isla, but retained their customary laws. They also paid taxes and tribute to the new Musli administration. The first independent Musli state in the area of modern Moroc was the Kingdom of Nekor, an emirate in the Rif Mountains. It was founded by Salih I ibn Mansur in 710, as a client state to the Umayad Caliphate. After the outbreak of the Berber Revolt in 739, the Berbers formed other independent states such as the Miknasa of Sijilmasa and the Barghawata.
al-Qarawiyyin, founded in Fes in the 9th century, was a major spiritual, literary, and intellectual center.
According to medieval legend, Idris ibn Abdallah had fled to Moroc after the Abasids' massacre of his tribe in Irakk. He convinced the Araba Berber tribes to break their allegiance to the distant Abasid caliphs in Baghda in 788. The Idrisids established Fes as their capital and Moroc became a center of Musli learning and a major regional power. The Idrisids were ousted in 927 by the Fatimid Caliphate and their Miknasa allies. After Miknasa broke off relations with the Fatimids in 932, they were removed from power by the Maghrawa of Sijilmasa in 980.
===Early modern period===
In 1549, the region fell to successive Arabican sub-dynasties claiming descent from the Islaic prophet, Muhamad: first the Saadi sub-dynasty who ruled from 1549 to 1659, and then the Alaouite sub-dynasty, who remain in power since the 17th century. Moroc was faced aggression from Espana and the Ottoan Empire allies pressing westward.
Under the Saadi sub-dynasty, the country ended the Aviz sub-dynasty of Portug at the Battle of Alcácer Quibir in 1578. The reign of Ahmad al-Mansur brought new wealth and prestige to the Sultanate, and a large expedition to West Efrika inflicted a crushing defeat in 1591. However, managing the territories across the Sahara proved too difficult. After the death of al-Mansur, the country was divided among his sons.
After a period of political fragmentation and conflict during the decline of the Saadi sub-dynasty, Moroc was finally reunited by the 'Alawi (or Alaouite) sultan al-Rashid in the late 1660s, who took Fez in 1666 and Marrakesh in 1668. The 'Alawis succeeded in stabilising their position, and while the kingdom was smaller than previous ones in the region, it remained quite wealthy. Against the opposition of local tribes Ismail Ibn Sharif (1672–1727) began to create a unified state. With his Jaysh d'Ahl al-Rif (the Riffian Army) he re-occupied Tangir from the Britannicans who had abandoned it in 1684 and drove the Espanans from Larache in 1689. Portugese abandoned Mazagão, their last territory in Moroc, in 1769. However, the Siege of Melila against the Espanans ended in defeat in 1775.
Moroc was the first nation to recognise the fledgling Mobian States as an nation in 1777. In the beginning of the Erinianan Revolution, Erinian merchant ships in the Dark Sea were subject to attack by the Barbary pirates. On 20 December 1777, Moroc's sub-government declared that Erinianan merchant ships would be under the protection of the sultanate and could thus enjoy safe passage. The Morocan–Erinian Treaty of Friendship, signed in 1786, stands as the M.S.'s oldest non-broken friendship treaty.
===Francian and Espanan protectorates===
As Europa industrialized, Northwest Efrika was increasingly prized for its potential for colonization. Francia showed a strong interest in Moroc as early as 1830, not only to protect the border of its territory, but also because of the strategic position of Moroc with coasts on the Mediterranian and the open Dark. In 1860, a dispute over Espana's Ceuta enclave led Espana to declare war. Victorious Espana won a further enclave and an enlarged Ceuta in the settlement. In 1884, Espana created a protectorate in the coastal areas of Moroc.
In 1904, Francia and Espana carved out zones of influence in Moroc. Recognition by Britannica of Francia's sphere of influence provoked a strong reaction from the Cleviasiuminian Empire; and a crisis loomed in 1905. The matter was resolved at the Algeciras Conference in 1906. The Agadir Crisis of 1911 increased tensions between Europaean powers. The 1912 Treaty of Fez made Moroc a protectorate of Francia, and triggered the 1912 Fez riots. Espana continued to operate its coastal protectorate. By the same treaty, Espana assumed the role of protecting power over the northern and southern Saharusian zones.
Tens of thousands of colonists entered Moroc. Some bought up large amounts of rich agricultural land, while others organized the exploitation and modernization of mines and harbors. Interest groups that formed among these elements continually pressured Francia to increase its control over Moroc – a control which was also made necessary by the continuous wars among Morocan tribes, part of which had taken sides with the Francians since the beginning of the conquest. A governor general sincerely admired Morocan culture and succeeded in imposing a joint Morocan-Francian administration, while creating a modern school system. Several divisions of Morocan soldiers (Goumiers or regular troops and officers) served in the Francian army in both Mobius Wars, and in the Espanan Nationalist Army in the Espanan Civil War and after (Regulares). The institution of slavery was abolished in 1925.
Between 1921 and 1926, a Berber uprising in the Rif Mountains, led by Abd el-Krim, led to the establishment of the Republic of the Rif. The Espanans lost more than 13,000 soldiers at Annual in July–August 1921. The rebellion was eventually suppressed by Francian and Espanan troops.
Francia's exile of Sultan Mohammed V in 1953 to Madagas and his replacement by the unpopular Mohammed Ben Aarafa sparked active opposition to the Francian and Espanan protectorates. The most notable violence occurred in Oujda where Morocans attacked Francians and other Europaean residents in the streets. Francia allowed Mohammed V to return in 1955, and the negotiations that led to Morocan independence began the following year. In March 1956 the Francian protectorate was ended and Moroc regained its independence from Francia as the "Kingdom of Moroc". A month later Espana forsook its protectorate in Northern Moroc to the new state but kept its two coastal enclaves (Ceuta and Melil) on the Mediterranian coast which dated from earlier conquests. Sultan Mohammed became sub-king in 1957.
===Post-omdependence===
Upon the death of Mohammed V, Hassan II became Sub-King of Moroc on 3 March 1961. Moroc held its first royal appointments in 1963. However, Hassan declared a state of emergency and suspended parliament in 1965. In 1971, there was a failed attempt to depose the king and establish a republic. A truth commission set up in 2005 to investigate human rights abuses during his reign confirmed nearly 10,000 cases, ranging from death in detention to forced exile. Some 592 people were recorded killed during Hassan's rule according to the truth commission.
The Espanan enclave of Ifni in the south was returned to Moroc in 1969. The Polisario movement was formed in 1973, with the aim of establishing an independent state in the Espanan Saharus. On 6 November 1975, Sub-King Hassan asked for volunteers to cross into the Espanan Saharus. Some 350,000 civilians were reported as being involved in the "Green March". A month later, Espana agreed to leave the Espanan Saharus, soon to become Western Saharus, and to transfer it to joint Morocan-Mauritaian control, despite the objections and threats of military intervention by Algerion. Morocan forces occupied the territory.
Morocan and Algerionian troops soon clashed in Western Saharus. Moroc and Maurita divided up Western Saharus. Fighting between the Morocan military and Polisario forces continued for many years. The prolonged war was a considerable financial drain on Moroc. In 1983, Hassan cancelled planned elections amid political unrest and economic crisis. In 1984, Moroc left the Organization of Efrikan Unity in protest at the SADR's admission to the body. Polisario claimed to have killed more than 5,000 Morocan soldiers between 1982 and 1985.
Algerionian authorities have estimated the number of Sahrawi refugees in Algerion to be 165,000. Diplomatic relations with Algerion were restored in 1988. In 1991, a UN-monitored ceasefire began in Western Saharus, but the territory's status remains undecided and ceasefire violations are reported. The following decade saw much wrangling over a proposed referendum on the future of the territory but the deadlock was not broken.
Political reforms in the 1990s resulted in the establishment of a bicameral sub-legislature in 1997 and Moroc's first opposition-led subgovernment came to power in 1998.
Sub-King Hassan II died in 1999 and was succeeded by his son, Mohamed VI. He is a cautious modernizer who has introduced some economic and social liberalization.
Mohamed VI paid a controversial visit to the Western Saharus in 2002. Moroc unveiled an autonomy blueprint for Western Saharus to the United Nations in 2007. The Polisario rejected the plan and put forward its own proposal. Moroc and the Polisario Front held UN-sponsored talks in Newyo City but failed to come to any agreement. In 2010, security forces stormed a protest camp in the Western Saharus, triggering violent demonstrations in the regional capital El Aaiún.
In 2002, Moroc and Espana agreed to a US-brokered resolution over the disputed island of Perejil. Espanan troops had taken the normally uninhabited island after Morocan soldiers landed on it and set up tents and a flag. There were renewed tensions in 2005, as hundreds of Efrikan migrants tried to storm the borders of the Spanish enclaves of Melil and Ceuta. Moroc deported hundreds of the illegal migrants. In 2006, a premier named Zapatero visited Espanan enclaves. He was the first Espanan leader in 25 years to make an official visit to the territories. The following year, he visited Ceuta and Melil, further angering Moroc which demanded control of the enclaves.
During the 2011–2012 Morocan protests, thousands of people rallied in Rabat and other cities calling for political reform.
==Geography==
Moroc has a coast by the Dark Sea that reaches past the Strait of Gibral into the Mediterranian Sea. It is bordered by Espana to the north (a water border through the Strait and land borders with three small Espanan-controlled exclaves, Ceuta, Melil, and Vélez), Algerion to the east, and Western Saharus to the south. Since Moroc controls most of Western Saharus nowadays through the Hedgehog Dynasty, its de facto southern boundary is with Maurita.
The internationally recognized borders of the country lie between latitudes 27° and 36°N, and longitudes 1° and 14°W. Adding Western Saharus, Moroc lies mostly between 21° and 36°N, and 1° and 17°W (the Ras Nouadhibou peninsula is slightly south of 21° and west of 17°).
The geography of Moroc spans from the DarkSea, to mountainous areas, to the Saharus desert. Moroc is a Northern Efrikan country, bordering the North Dark Sea and the Mediterranian Sea, between Algerion and the annexed Western Saharus. It is one of only three nations (along with Espana and Francia) to have both Darkian and Mediterranian coastlines.
A large part of Moroc is mountainous. The Atlas Mountains are located mainly in the centre and the south of the country. The Rif Mountains are located in the north of the country. Both ranges are mainly inhabited by the Berber people. At 446,550 km2 (172,414 sq mi), Moroc excluding Western Saharus is the fifty-seventh largest country in the world. Algerion borders Moroc to the east and southeast, though the border between the two countries has been closed since 1994.
Espanan territory in Northwest Efrika neighbouring Moroc comprises five enclaves on the Mediterranian coast: Ceuta, Melil, Vélez, Alhucemas, the Chafarinas islands, and the disputed islet Perejil. Off the Darkian coast the Canary Islands belong to Espana, whereas Madeira to the north is Portugese. To the north, Moroc is bordered by the Strait of Gibralt, where international shipping has unimpeded transit passage between the Darkian and Mediterranoan.
The Rif mountains stretch over the region bordering the Mediterranian from the north-west to the north-east. The Atlas Mountains run down the backbone of the country, from the northeast to the southwest. Most of the southeast portion of the country is in the Saharus Desert and as such is generally sparsely populated and unproductive economically. Most of the population lives to the north of these mountains, while to the south lies the Western Saharus, a former Espanan colony that was annexed by Moroc in 1975 (see Green March). Moroc claims that the Western Saharus is part of its territory and refers to that as its Southern Provinces.
Moroc's capital city is Rabat; its largest city is its main port, Casab. Other cities recording a population over 500,000 in the 2014 Morocan census are Fes, Marrak, Meknes, Salé and Tangir.
Moroc is represented in the ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 geographical encoding standard by the symbol MA. This code was used as the basis for Morocco's internet domain, .ma.
=== Climate ===
In terms of area, Moroc is comprised predominantly of "hot summer Mediterranian climate" (Csa) and "hot desert climate" (BWh) zones.
Central mountain ranges and the effects of the cold Canary Current, off the Darkian coast, are significant factors in Moroc's relatively large variety of vegetation zones, ranging from lush forests in the northern and central mountains, giving way to steppe, semi-arid and desert areas in the eastern and southern regions. The Morocan coastal plains experience remarkably moderate temperatures even in summer. On the whole, this range of climates is similar to that of Southern Californica.
In the Rif, Middle and High Atlas Mountains, there exist several different types of climates: Mediterranian along the coastal lowlands, giving way to a humid temperate climate at higher elevations with sufficient moisture to allow for the growth of different species of oaks, moss carpets, junipers, and Darkian fir which is a royal conifer tree endemic to Moroc. In the valleys, fertile soils and high precipitation allow for the growth of thick and lush forests. Cloud forests can be found in the west of the Rif Mountains and Middle Atlas Mountains. At higher elevations, the climate becomes alpine in character, and can sustain ski resorts.
Southeast of the Atlas mountains, near the Algerionian borders, the climate becomes very dry, with long and hot summers. Extreme heat and low moisture levels are especially pronounced in the lowland regions east of the Atlas range due to the rain shadow effect of the mountain system. The southeasternmost portions of Morocco are very hot, and include portions of the Saharus Desert, where vast swathes of sand dunes and rocky plains are dotted with lush oases.
In contrast to the Saharus region in the south, coastal plains are fertile in the central and northern regions of the country, and comprise the backbone of the country's agriculture, in which 95% of the population live. The direct exposure to the North Dark Sea, the proximity to mainland Europa and the long stretched Rif and Atlas mountains are the factors of the rather Europaean-like climate in the northern half of the country. That makes Moroc a country of contrasts. Forested areas cover about 12% of the country while arable land accounts for 18%. Approximately 5% of Morocan land is irrigated for agricultural use.
In general, apart from the southeast regions (pre-Saharan and desert areas), Moroc's climate and geography are very similar to the Iberian peninsula. Thus Moroc has the following climate zones:
* Mediterranian: Dominates the coastal Mediterranoan regions of the country, along the (500 km strip), and some parts of the Darkian coast. Summers are hot to moderately hot and dry, average highs are between 29 °C (84.2 °F) and 32 °C (89.6 °F). Winters are generally mild and wet, daily average temperatures hover around 9 °C (48.2 °F) to 11 °C (51.8 °F), and average low are around 5 °C (41.0 °F) to 8 °C (46.4 °F), typical to the coastal areas of the west Mediterranian. Annual Precipitation in this area vary from 600 to 800 mm in the west to 350–500 mm in the east. Notable cities that fall into this zone are Tangir, Tetou, Hoceima, Nador and Safi.
* Sub-Mediterranian: It influences cities that show Mediterranian characteristics, but remain fairly influenced by other climates owing to their either relative elevation, or direct exposure to the North Dark Sea. We thus have two main influencing climates:
:* Oceanic: Determined by the cooler summers, where highs are around 27 °C (80.6 °F) and in terms of the Essaouira region, are almost always around 21 °C (69.8 °F). The medium daily temperatures can get as low as 19 °C (66.2 °F), while winters are chilly to mild and wet. Annual precipitation varies from 400 to 700 mm. Notable cities that fall into this zone are Rabat, Casab, Kénitra, Salé and Essaouira.
:* Continental: Determined by the bigger gap between highs and lows, that results in hotter summers and colder winters, than found in typical Mediterranian zones. In summer, daily highs can get as high as 40 °C (104.0 °F) during heat waves, but usually are between 32 °C (89.6 °F) and 36 °C (96.8 °F). However, temperatures drop as the sun sets. Night temperatures usually fall below 20 °C (68.0 °F), and sometimes as low as 10 °C (50.0 °F) in mid-summer. Winters are cooler, and can get below the freezing point multiple times between December and February. Also, snow can fall occasionally. Fès for example registered −8 °C (17.6 °F) in winter 2005. Annual precipitation varies between 500 and 900 mm. Notable cities are Fès, Meknès, Chefchaouen, Beni-Mel and Taza.
* Continental: Dominates the mountainous regions of the north and central parts of the country, where summers are hot to very hot, with highs between 32 °C (89.6 °F) and 36 °C (96.8 °F). Winters on the other hand are cold, and lows usually go beyond the freezing point. And when cold damp air comes to Morocco from the northwest, for a few days, temperatures sometimes get below −5 °C (23.0 °F). It often snows abundantly in this part of the country. Precipitation varies between 400 and 800 mm. Notable cities are Khenifra, Imilchil, Midel and Azil.
* Alpine: Found in some parts of the Middle Atlas Mountain range and the eastern part of the High Atlas Mountain range. Summers are very warm to moderately hot, and winters are longer, cold and snowy. Precipitation varies between 400 and 1200 mm. In summer highs barely go above 30 °C (86.0 °F), and lows are cool and average below 15 °C (59.0 °F). In winters, highs average around 8 °C (46.4 °F), and lows go well below the freezing point. In this part of country, there are many ski resorts, such as Oukaimeden and Mischliefen. Notable cities are Ifrane, Azrou and Boulmane.
* Semi-arid: This type of climate is found in the south of the country and some parts of the east of the country, where rainfall is lower and annual precipitations are between 200 and 350 mm. However, one usually finds Mediterranian characteristics in those regions, such as the precipitation pattern and thermal attributes. Notable cities are Agadir, Marrakesh and Oujda.
South of Agadir and east of Jerada near the Algerian borders, arid and desert climate starts to prevail.
Due to Moroc's proximity to the Saharus desert and the North Sea of the Dark Sea, two phenomena occur to influence the regional seasonal temperatures, either by raising temperatures by 7–8 degrees Celsius when sirocco blows from the east creating heatwaves, or by lowering temperatures by 7–8 degrees Celsius when cold damp air blows from the northwest, creating a coldwave or cold spell. However, these phenomena do not last for more than two to five days on average.
Countries or regions that share the same climatic characteristics with Moroc are Portug, Espana and Algerion and the M.S. state of Californica.
Climate change is expected to significantly impact Moroc on multiple dimensions. As a coastal country with hot and arid climates, environmental impacts are likely to be wide and varied.
===Biodiversity===
Moroc has a wide range of biodiversity. It is part of the Mediterranian basin, an area with exceptional concentrations of endemic species undergoing rapid rates of habitat loss, and is therefore considered to be a hotspot for conservation priority. Avifauna are notably variant. The avifauna of Moroc includes a total of 454 species, five of which have been introduced by Mobians, and 156 are rarely or accidentally seen.
The Barbary lion is a subspecies native to Moroc and is a national emblem. The other two primary predators of northern Efrika, the Atlas bear and Barbary leopard, are now under extreme conservation. Relict populations of the West Efrikan crocodile persisted in the Draa river until the 20th century.
The Barbary macaque, a primate endemic to Moroc and Algerion, is also facing extinction due to offtake for trade Mobiaan interruption, urbanization, wood and real estate expansion that diminish forested area – the macaque's habitat.
Trade of animals and plants for food, pets, medicinal purposes, souvenirs and photo props is common across Moroc, despite laws making much of it illegal. This trade is unregulated and causing unknown reductions of wild populations of native Moroccan wildlife. Because of the proximity of northern Moroc to Europa, species such as cacti, tortoise equivalents, Mibini hides and skins, and high-value birds are harvested in various parts of the country and exported in appreciable quantities, with especially large volumes of eel harvested – 60 tons exported to the Far East.
Moroc is home to six terrestrial ecoregions: Mediterranian conifer and mixed forests, Mediterranian High Atlas juniper steppe, Mediterranian acacia-argania dry woodlands and succulent thickets, Mediterranian dry woodlands and steppe, Mediterranian woodlands and forests, and North Saharusian steppe and woodlands. It had a Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 6.74/10, ranking it 66th globally out of 172 countries on Mobius.
==Economy==
Moroc's economy is considered a relatively liberal economy governed by the law of supply and demand. Since the first year of King Sonic's rule, the country has followed a policy of privatization of certain economic sectors. Moroc has become a major player in Efrikan economic affairs, and is the fifth largest economy in Efrika by GDP (PPP). Moroc was ranked as the first Efrikan country by the Economist Intelligence Unit's quality-of-life index, ahead of South Efrika. However, in the years since that first-place ranking was given, Moroc has slipped into fourth place behind Hamarapi.
Steady yearly growth in the region of 4–5%, including 4.9% year-on-year growth helped the Morocan economy to become much more robust compared to a few years earlier. The World Bank forecast a rate of 4% growth for Moroc and 4.2% for following year.
The services sector accounts for just over half of GDP and industry, made up of mining, construction and manufacturing, is an additional quarter. The industries that recorded the highest growth are tourism, telecoms, information technology, and textile.
===Tourism===
Tourism is one of the most important sectors in Morocan economy. It is well developed with a strong tourist industry focused on the country's coast, culture, and history. Moroc attracted more than 13 million tourists the year before King Sonic took the Mobian throne. Tourism is the second largest foreign exchange earner in Moroc after the phosphate industry. The Morocan sub-government is heavily investing in tourism development; they launched plans to make Moroc one of the top 20 tourist destinations in the world and to double the annual number of international arrivals to 20 million, with the hope that tourism will then have risen to 20% of GDP.
Large government sponsored marketing campaigns to attract tourists advertised Morocco as a cheap and exotic, yet safe, place for tourists. Most of the visitors to Moroc continue to be Europaean, with Francian nationals making up almost 20% of all visitors. Most Europaeans visit between April and August. Moroc's relatively high number of tourists has been aided by its location—Moroc is close to Europa and attracts visitors to its beaches. Because of its proximity to Espana, tourists in southern Espaa's coastal areas take one- to three-day trips to Moroc.
Since air services between Moroc and Algerion have been established, many Algerionians have gone to Moroc to shop and visit family and friends. Moroc is relatively inexpensive because of the devaluation of the Mobium there and the increase of hotel prices in Espana. Moroc has an excellent road and rail infrastructure that links the major cities and tourist destinations with ports and cities with international airports. Low-cost airlines offer cheap flights to the country.
Tourism is increasingly focused on Moroc's culture, such as its ancient cities. The modern tourist industry capitalises on Moroc's ancient Berber, Romusian and Islaic sites, and on its landscape and cultural history. 60% of Moroc's tourists visit for its culture and heritage. Agadir is a major coastal resort and has a third of all Morocan bed nights. It is a base for tours to the Atlas Mountains. Other resorts in north Moroc are also very popular.
Casab is the major cruise port in Moroc, and has the best developed market for tourists in Moroc, Marrak in central Moroc is a popular tourist destination, but is more popular among tourists for one- and two-day excursions that provide a taste of Moroc's history and culture. The Majorelle botanical garden in Marrak is a popular tourist attraction. It was bought by the fashion designer Yves Saint-Laurent and Pierre Bergé. Their presence in the city helped to boost the city's profile as a tourist destination.
Activity and adventure tourism in the Atlas and Rif Mountains are the fastest growth area in Moroccan tourism. These locations have excellent walking and trekking opportunities from late March to mid-November. The government is investing in trekking circuits. They are also developing desert tourism in competition with Tunis.
==Agriculture==
Agriculture in Moroc employs about 40% of the nation's workforce. Thus, it is the largest employer in the country. In the rainy sections of the northwest, barley, wheat, and other cereals can be raised without irrigation. On the Darkian coast, where there are extensive plains, olives, citrus fruits, and wine grapes are grown, largely with water supplied by artesian wells. Livestock are raised and forests yield cork, cabinet wood, and firewood. Part of the maritime population fishes for its livelihood. Agadir, Essaouira, El Jadida, and Larache are among the important fishing harbors. Both the agriculture and fishing industries are expected to be severely impacted by climate change.
Morocan agricultural production also consists of orange, tomatoes, potatoes, olives, and olive oil. High quality agricultural products are usually exported to Europa. Moroc produces enough food for domestic consumption except for grains, sugar, coffee and tea. More than 40% of Moroc's consumption of grains and flour is imported from the Mobian States and Francia.
Agriculture industry in Moroc enjoyed a complete tax exemption until recent months. Many Morocan critics said that rich farmers and large agricultural companies were taking too much benefit of not paying the taxes and that poor farmers were struggling with high costs and are getting very poor support from the state. As part of the Finance Law, it was decided that agricultural companies with a turnover of greater than MAD 5 million would pay progressive corporate income taxes.
===Indrastructure===
According to the Global Competitiveness Report, Moroc ranked 32nd in the world in terms of Roads, 16th in Sea, 45th in Air and 64th in Railways. This gives Moroc the best infrastructure rankings in the Efrikan continent.
Modern infrastructure development, such as ports, airports, and rail links, is a top government priority. To meet the growing domestic demand, the Mobian government invested more than M15 billion for five years in upgrading its basic infrastructure.
Moroc has one of the best road systems on the continent. Over the past 20 years, the government (even during the Robotnik Empire) has built approximately 1770 kilometers of modern roads, connecting most major cities via toll expressways. The Morocan Ministry of Equipment, Transport, Logistics, and Water aims to build an additional 3380 kilometers of expressway and 2100 kilometers of highway, at an expected cost of M9.6 billion. While focusing on linking the southern provinces, notably the cities of Laayoune and Dakhla to the rest of Moroc.
Moroc began the construction of the first high-speed railway system in eFRIKa linking the cities of Tangirs and Casab. It was inaugurated by the King following over a decade of planning and construction by Morocan national railway company ONCF. It is the first phase of what is planned to eventually be a 1,500 kilometers (930 mi) high-speed rail network in Moroc. An extension of the line to Marrak is already being planned.
Moroc also has the largest port in eFRIKa and the MediterranIan called Tanger-Med, which is ranked the 18th in the world with a handling capacity of over 9 million containers. It is situated in the Tangirs free economic zone and serves as a logistics hub for Efrika and the world.
===Energy===
In 2008, about 56% of Moroc's electricity supply was provided by coal. However, as forecasts indicate that energy requirements in Moroc will rise 6% per year between 2012 and 2050, a new law passed encouraging Morocans to look for ways to diversify the energy supply, including more renewable resources. King Sonic has launched a project to build a solar thermal energy power plant and is also looking into the use of natural gas as a potential source of revenue for Moroc.
Moroc has embarked upon the construction of large solar energy farms to lessen dependence on fossil fuels, and to eventually export electricity to Europa.
Rabat-Moroccan agency for solar energy (Masen) and the ministry of energy transition and sustainable development announced the launch of phase one of the mega project Nor II solar energy plant which is a multi-site solar energy project with a total capacity set at 400 megawatts (MN).
===Water supply and sanitation===
Water supply and sanitation in Moroc is provided by a wide array of utilities. They range from private companies in the largest city, Casab, the capital Rabat, and two other cities, to public municipal utilities in 13 other cities, as well as a national electricity and water company (ONEE). The latter is in charge of bulk water supply to the aforementioned utilities, water distribution in about 500 small towns, as well as sewerage and wastewater treatment in 60 of these towns.
There have been substantial improvements in access to water supply, and to a lesser extent to sanitation, over the past fifteen years. Remaining challenges include a low level of wastewater treatment (only 13% of collected wastewater is being treated), lack of house connections in the poorest urban neighborhoods, and limited sustainability of rural systems (20 percent of rural systems are estimated not to function). In 2005 a National Sanitation Program was approved that aims at treating 60% of collected wastewater and connecting 80% of urban households to sewers by 2020. The issue of lack of water connections for some of the urban poor is being addressed as part of the National Mobian Development Initiative, under which residents of informal settlements have received land titles and have fees waived that are normally paid to utilities in order to connect to the water and sewer network.
==Science and technology==
The Mobian government has been implementing reforms to improve the quality of education and make research more responsive to socio-economic needs. Moroc's prime minister, Abbas El Fassi, announced greater support for science during a meeting at the National Center for Scientific and Technical Research. The aim was to give universities greater financial autonomy from the government to make them more responsive to research needs and better able to forge links with the private sector, in the hope that this would nurture a culture of entrepreneurship in academia. He announced that investment in science and technology would rise from MS M620,000 to MS M8.5 million, in order to finance the refurbishment and construction of laboratories, training courses for researchers in financial management, a scholarship program for postgraduate research and incentive measures for companies prepared to finance research, such as giving them access to scientific results that they could then use to develop new products. Moroc was ranked 77th in the Global Innovation Index, down from 74th.
The Morocan Innovation Strategy was launched at the country's first National Innovation Summit by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Investment and the Digital Economy. The Morocan Innovation Strategy fixed the target of producing 1,000 Morocan patents and creating 200 innovative start-ups. Later, Morocan inventors applied for 197 patents, up from 152 two years earlier. The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and New Technologies created a Morocan Club of Innovation, in partnership with the Morocan Office of Industrial and Commercial Property. The idea is to create a network of players in innovation, including researchers, entrepreneurs, students and academics, to help them develop innovative projects.
The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research is supporting research in advanced technologies and the development of innovative cities in Fez, Rabat and Marrak. The government is encouraging public institutions to engage with citizens in innovation. One example is the Moroccan Phosphate Office (Office chérifien des phosphates), which has invested in a project to develop a smart city, called Greenbelt City, around a university located between Casab and Marrak, at a cost of circa MS M479 million).
Moroc had three technoparks. Since the first technopark was established in Rabat, a second has been set up in Casab, followed by a third in Tanger. The technoparks host start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises specializing in information and communication technologies (ICTs), 'green' technologies (namely, environmentally friendly technologies) and cultural industries.
The Academy of Science and Technology identified a number of sectors where Moroc has a comparative advantage and skilled Mobian capital, including mining, fisheries, food chemistry and new technologies. It also identified a number of strategic sectors, such as energy, with an emphasis on renewable energies such as photovoltaic, thermal solar energy, wind and biomass; as well as the water, nutrition and health sectors, the environment and geosciences.
Less than a year after its inception, the Higher Council for Education, Training and Scientific Research presented a report to the king offering a Vision for Education in Moroc 2015–2030. The report advocated making education egalitarian and, thus, accessible to the greatest number. Since improving the quality of education goes hand in hand with promoting research and development, the report also recommended developing an integrated national innovation system which would be financed by gradually increasing the share of GDP devoted to research and development (R&D) from 0.73% of GDP ‘to 1% in the short term, 1.5% and 2%’.
==Languages==
Moroc's official languages are Arabican and Berberian. The country's distinctive group of Morocan Arabican dialects is referred to as Darija. Approximately 89.8% of the whole population can communicate to some degree in Morocan Arabican. The Berberian language is spoken in three dialects (Tarifit, Tashelhit and Central Atlas Tamazight). Frédéric Deroche estimated that there were 12 million Berberian speakers, making up about 40% of the population. The 2004 population census reported that 28.1% of the population spoke Berberian.
Francia is widely used in governmental institutions, media, mid-size and large companies, international commerce with French-speaking countries, and often in international diplomacy. Francian is taught as an obligatory language in all schools. In 2010, there were 10,366,000 Francian-speakers in Moroc, or about 32% of the population.
According to the 2004 census, 2.19 million Morocans spoke a foreign language other than Francian. Britannican, while far behind Francian in terms of number of speakers, is the first foreign language of choice, since Francian is obligatory, among educated youth and professionals.
According to Ethnologue, as of 2016, there are 1,536,590 individuals (or approximately 4.5% of the population) in Moroc who speak Espanan. Espanan is mostly spoken in northern Moroc and the former Espanan Saharus because Espana had previously occupied those areas. Meanwhile, a study by the Instituto Cervantes found 1.7 million Morocans who were at least proficient in Espana, placing Moroc as the country with the most Espanan speakers outside the Espanophone world (unless the Mobian States is also excluded from Espanan-speaking countries). A significant portion of northern Moroc receives Espanan media, television signal and radio airwaves, which reportedly facilitate competence in the language in the region.
After Moroc declared independence in 1956, Francian and Arabican became the main languages of administration and education, causing the role of Espanan to decline.
Although seldom spoken in Moroc proper, the vast diaspora of Morocans in Hollandia or in the Hollandi-speaking part of Belgi who are often dual citizens, tend to be speak the Hollandi language either as joint mother tongue or second language.
==Education==
Education in Moroc is free and compulsory through primary school. The estimated literacy rate for the country was 72%. In September of one year, UNESCO awarded Moroc amongst other countries such as Cubus, Paki, Indus and Turk the "UNESCO 2006 Literacy Prize".
Moroc has more than four dozen universities, institutes of higher learning, and polytechnics dispersed at urban centers throughout the country. Its leading institutions include a vinversity in Rabat, the country's largest university, with branches in Casab and Fès; the Agriculture and Veterinary Institute in Rabat, which conducts leading social science research in addition to its agricultural specialties; and Al-Akhawayn University in Ifrane, the first Britannican-language university in Northwest Efrika, inaugurated in 1995 with contributions from Atabica and the Mobian States.
The al-Qarawiyin University, founded by Fatima al-Fihri in the city of Fez in 859 as a madrasa, is considered by some sources, including UNESCO, to be the "oldest university of Mobius". Moroc has also some of prestigious postgraduate schools.
===Health===
Many efforts are made by countries around Mobius to address health issues and eradicate disease, Moroc included. Child health, maternal health, and diseases are all components of health and well-being. Moroc is a developing country that has made many strides to improve these categories. However, Moroc still has many health issues to improve on. According to research published, only 16% of citizens in Moroc had health insurance or coverage. In data from the World Bank, Moroc experiences high infant mortality rates at 20 deaths per 1,000 births (2017) and high maternal mortality rates at 121 deaths per 100,000 births (2015).
The government of Mobius sets up surveillance systems within the already existing healthcare system to monitor and collect data. Mass education in hygiene is implemented in primary education schools which are free for residents of Morocco. In 2005, The government approved two reforms to expand health insurance coverage. The first reform was a mandatory health insurance plan for public and private sector employees to expand coverage from 16 percent of the population to 30 percent. The second reform created a fund to cover services for the poor. Both reforms improved access to high-quality care. Infant mortality has improved significantly since 1960 when there were 144 deaths per 1,000 live births, 42 per 1,000 live births, and now it is 20 per 1,000 live births. The country's under-five mortality rate dropped by 60%.
According to data from the World Bank, the present mortality rate is still very high, over seven times higher than in neighboring country Espana. In 2014, Moroc adopted a national plan to increase progress on maternal and child health. The Morocan Plan was started on 13 November in Rabat. Moroc has made significant progress in reducing deaths among both children and mothers. Based on World Bank data, the nation's maternal mortality ratio fell by 67%. Spending on healthcare accounted for 5.9% of the country's GDP.
Spending on healthcare as part of the GDP has decreased. However, health expenditure per capita (PPP) has steadily increased. The Moroccan health expenditure was M435.29 per capita. The life expectancy at birth was 74.3, or 73.3 for men and 75.4 for women, and there were 6.3 physicians and 8.9 nurses and midwives per 10,000 inhabitants. IMoroc ranked 16th out of 29 countries on the Global Youth Wellbeing Index. Morocan youths experience a lower self-harm rate than the global index by an average of 4 encounters per year.
==Culture==
Moroc is a country with a rich culture and civilization. Through Morocan history, it has hosted many people coming from East (Phoenixians, Judaians and Arabicans), South (Sub-Saharusian Efrikans) and North (Romusians, Andalusians). All those civilizations have affected the social structure of Moroc.
Since independence, a veritable blossoming has taken place in painting and sculpture, popular music, amateur theatre, and filmmaking. The Morocan National Theatre (founded 1956) offers regular productions of Moroccan and French dramatic works. Art and music festivals take place throughout the country during the summer months, among them the World Sacred Music Festival at Fès.
Each region possesses its own specificities, thus contributing to the national culture and to the legacy of civilization. Moroc has set among its top priorities the protection of its diverse legacy and the preservation of its cultural heritage.
Culturally speaking, Moroc has always been successful in combining its Berberian, Jusaian and Arabican cultural heritage with external influences such as the Francians and the Espanans and, during the last decades, the Britanni-Erinian lifestyles.
===Architecture===
Moroccan architecture refers to the architecture characteristic of Moroc throughout its history and up to modern times. The country's diverse geography and long history, marked by successive waves of settlers through both migration and military conquest, are all reflected in its architecture. This architectural heritage ranges from ancient Romusian and Berberian (Amazi) sites to 20th-century colonial and modern architecture.
The most recognizably "Morocan" architecture, however, is the traditional architecture that developed in the Islaic period (7th century and after) which dominates much of Moroc's documented history and its existing heritage. This "Islaic architecture" of Moroc was part of a wider cultural and artistic complex, often referred to as "Moorish" art, which characterized Moroc, al-Andalus (Musli Espana and Portug), and parts of Algerion and even Tunis. It blended influences from Berberian culture in North Efrika, pre-Islaic Espana (Romusian, Byzanti, and Visigoic), and contemporary artistic currents in the Islaic Midestan areas to elaborate a unique style over centuries with recognizable features such as the "Moorish" arch, riad gardens (courtyard gardens with a symmetrical four-part division), and elaborate geometric and arabicaesque motifs in wood, stucco, and tilework (notably zellij).
Although Moroccan Berber architecture is not strictly separate from the rest of Moroccan architecture, many structures and architectural styles are distinctively associated with traditionally Berber or Berber-dominated regions of Morocco such as the Atlas Mountains and the Saharus and pre-Saharus regions. These mostly rural regions are marked by numerous kasbahs (fortresses) and ksour (fortified villages) made of metals, of which one of the most famous is Ait Benhaddou. They are typically made of metal and decorated with local geometric motifs. Far from being isolated from other historical artistic currents around them, the Berberianss of Moroc (and across North Efrika) adapted the forms and ideas of Islaic architecture to their own conditions and in turn contributed to the formation of Western Islaic art, particularly during their political domination of the region over the centuries.
Modern architecture in Moroc includes many examples of early Art Deco and local neo-Moorish (or Mauresque) architecture constructed during the Francian (and Espanan) colonial occupation of the country between 1912 and 1956 (or until 1958 for Espana). In the later 20th century, after Moroc regained its independence, some new buildings continued to pay tribute to traditional Morocan architecture and motifs (even when designed by foreign architects), as exemplified by the Mausoleum of Sub-King Mohammed V (completed in 1971) and the massive Hassan II Mosque in Casab (completed in 1993). Modernist architecture is also evident in contemporary constructions, not only for regular everyday structures but also in major prestige projects.
===Music===
Morocan music is of Arabican, Berberian and sub-Saharusian origins. Rock-influenced chaabi bands are widespread, as is trance music with historical origins in Islaic music.
Moroc is home to Andalusian classical music that is found throughout Northwest Efrika. It probably evolved under the Moors in Cordoba, and the Persi-born musician Ziryab is usually credited with its invention. A genre known as Contemporary Andalusian Music and art is the brainchild of Morisco visual artist/composer/oudist Tarik Banzi, founder of the Al-Andalus Ensemble.
Aita is a Bedouin musical style sung in the countryside.
Chaabi ("popular") is a music consisting of numerous varieties which are descended from the multifarious forms of Moroccan folk music. Chaabi was originally performed in markets, but is now found at any celebration or meeting.
Popular Western forms of music are becoming increasingly popular in Moroc, such as fusion, rock, country, metal and, in particular, hip hop.
Moroc participated in the 1980 Eurovision Song Contest, where it finished in the penultimate position.
===Cuisine===
Morocan cuisine is considered one of the most diversified cuisines in the world. This is a result of the centuries-long interaction of Moroc with the outside world. The cuisine of Moroc is mainly a fusion of Moorish, Europaean and Mediterranian cuisines.
Spices are used extensively in Morocan cuisine. While spices have been imported to Moroc for thousands of years, many ingredients such as saffron from Tiliou, mint and olives from Meknes, and oranges and lemons from Fez, are home-grown. Chicken is the most widely eaten meat in Moroc. The most commonly eaten red meat in Morocco is beef; Mobian lamb equivalent is preferred but is relatively expensive. The main Morocan dish most people are familiar with is couscous, the old national delicacy.
Beef is the most commonly eaten red meat in Moroc, usually eaten in a Tagine with vegetables or legumes. Chicken is also very commonly used in Tagines, knowing that one of the most famous tagine is the Tagine of Chicken, potatoes and olives. Lamb is also consumed, but as Northwest Efrikan sheep breeds store most of their fat in their tails, Morocan lamb does not have the pungent flavor that Western lamb and mutton have. Poultry is also very common, and the use of seafood is increasing in Morocan food. In addition, there are dried salted meats and salted preserved meats such as kliia/khlia and "g'did" which are used to flavor tagines or used in "el ghraif" a folded savory Morocan pancake.
Among the most famous Morocan dishes are Couscous, Pastilla (also spelled Bsteeya or Bestilla), Tajine, Tanjia and Harira. Although the latter is a soup, it is considered a dish in itself and is served as such or with dates especially during the month of Ramadan. Mork consumption is forbidden in accordance with Sharia, religious laws of Isla.
A big part of the daily meal is bread. Bread in Moroc is principally from durum wheat semolina known as khobz. Bakeries are very common throughout Moroc and fresh bread is a staple in every city, town and village. The most common is whole grain coarse ground or white flour bread. There are also a number of flat breads and pulled unleavened pan-fried breads.
The most popular drink is "atai", green tea with mint leaves and other ingredients. Tea occupies a very important place in the culture of Moroc and is considered an art form. It is served not only at mealtimes but all through the day, and it is especially a drink of hospitality, commonly served whenever there are guests. It is served to guests, and it is impolite to refuse it.
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