Al Hoceima

The city of Al Hoceima is geographically located in north of Morocco on the Mediterranean coast, with an area of 3,550 square kilometers mainly characterized by a slope ranging from 10% to 40% and 12 000 hectares of plains. It is bordered to the west and Taounate Chefchaouen, east by Nador , Taza and the south by 120 km of Mediterranean coastline to the north.

Al Hoceima is located in the Rif , Morocco's Mediterranean mountain range.

The Al Hoceima National Park , an area of 47,000 hectares, covers a land part, the massive Bokkoya , and a portion located at sea Alhucemas Bay (or Bay of Al Hoceima). It includes the best preserved coastal sites of the northern Moroccan coast, towering cliffs and the mountainous hinterland of the Rif. The water in the bay of Al Hoceima is distinguished by clarity promoting a wealth of marine biodiversity. There are many marine groups such as cnidarians, annelids, mollusks, crustaceans, echinoderms, fish, reptiles, birds and marine mammals. The simultaneous presence in the park for three species of dolphin , common dolphin, striped dolphin and bottlenose dolphin, is a remarkable fact in the Mediterranean. It also provides shelter to rare species such as Audouin's Gull and the monk seal , endangered species near extinction in the Mediterranean Sea. The park has a particular interest in ornithology: Seventy-nine species of birds are counted, specifically one of the largest global concentrations of osprey.

Al Hoceima Bay also has many islands, such as tiny islands Sabaadiya and especially many small rocky islets. Island Rock of Alhucemas has the distinction of being under Spanish sovereignty.

Administration

Al Hoceima Province became after the Dahir of 13 January 1956 supplemented by that of December 6, 1959. It is organized into a pachalik to the city of Al Hoceima, with three districts and one municipality, and in three circles:

• Ait Ouaryaghel circle consisting of five cadats Thirteen rural municipalities and two municipalities.
• Targuist circle with four cadats, fourteen municipalities and rural municipalities.
• Circle Bni Boufrah cadats consists of two, four rural communes.

Al Hoceima form with the provinces of Taza and Taounate the fifteenth region of the kingdom since the Law 47-96 of April 2, 1997 which put an end to the division of the kingdom into seven economic regions and replace it with a new division of sixteen regions.

Population

Al Hoceima has about 283,100 inhabitants and 256,723 in its metropolitan area. The population of this city has the distinction of triple during the summer, with the return of nationals living in Europe and beach tourism.

The inhabitants of Al Hoceima are Hoceima, a term rarely used in Morocco. The people are often identified by the term Rwafa Arabic term that includes people from the historical heart of the Rif.

Language and Culture

The language spoken in Al Hoceima is the Rif (rates), family of languages Berber. Arabic in its declination is only very little Moroccan spoken in Al Hoceima, only government and education ^History

The city of Al Hoceima in its current shape was formed in 1920.

Al Hoceima is mainly known for his history of the city rebelled against Spanish colonial power. Abdelkrim El Khattabi (from the tribe of Ait Ouriaghel) is one of the first president of democratic forms of power in Africa, the Republic of Rif. The War of the Rif is a strong symbolic episode in the history of Morocco and Africa. She is the first anti-colonial war of the ^twentieth century and above all conflicts related to decolonization in Africa and the world.

Al Hoceima is also known for its painful history and its difficult relationship with the central government of Morocco, including the Rif uprising of 1958 , and the feeling of a city a little left to itself after the departure of the Spanish colonizers until the end of the reign of Hassan II ^Economy

Oriented fishing and tourism , Al Hoceima is one of the largest resorts in Morocco and North Africa. The massive influx of summer tourists and nationals interior is enhanced by the multitude of tracks in the region: Quemado (complex), Tala Youssef, Chafarinas (complex), Cala Iris Souani, Sfiha, Cala Bonita.

Al Hoceima is the first city in Morocco have launched a village Club Med in 1963, paving the way for village clubs Agadir and Marrakech. "Club Med" of Al Hoceima was closed in 2003 for insufficient attendance.

Infrastructure and Transport

Major construction of the bypass Mediterranean have since 2007, a road access to the city of Al Hoceima, long marked by accessibility by road remained difficult and dangerous for decades. The completion of the bypass along the Mediterranean coastline had been expected for over ten years by locals and nationals. Third port of Morocco for the treatment of passenger traffic, the port of Al Hoceima has a ferry terminal in modern infrastructure, inaugurated by King Mohammed VI in 2007.

Al Hoceima has an international airport , the Airport Al Hoceima - Cherif Al Idrissi , ( IATA code : AHU ). It serves only very few regular lines with Europe. The direct links are the most popular ones with Brussels and Amsterdam, given the many rifians nationals living in Belgium, France, the Netherlands. A new line is expected to serve within 1 year ^Twinnings

Cities

• Almuecar ( Spain )
• Yeumbeul ( Senegal ) from 20 December 2009

Districts

• District III District of Bamako ( Mali ) from 20 December 2009

See also

Related article

• Chabab Rif Hoceima

External Links

• (En) Al Hoceima on the site of World Gazetteer, by Stefan Helders

References

• Maghreb portal
• Morocco Portal
• Berbers portal