Geography: Where is Morocco on the Map?

A week before I left the US for Morocco, I was sitting in the travel clinic waiting for the doctor to go over final instructions for how not to die of dysentery during my trip. My mom was there with me, and we were looking at a world map that they had hanging on the wall.

Source: http://www.welt-atlas.de/datenbank/karten/karte-4-634.gif

“Where is Morocco again?” my mom asked. I pointed to the country on the western tip of North Africa, immediately touching Spain.

“Oh! That’s not so far as I thought,” she said brightly. “I thought that it was somewhere over here.” She indicated somewhere in the Persian Gulf.

Since this conversation, I have talked with several other international students studying abroad in Morocco, who have let me know that this is not an uncommon misconception. Many people, when asked where Morocco is, would think that it was in the Middle East somewhere.

There is more to this confusion than just simple lack of geographical knowledge, however. Geography shapes what we expect of a destination. A few locations in Morocco have been apprehended and marketed to the rest of the world, leaving a picture that is incomplete.

Contrary to common notion, Arab World and Middle East are not synonymous. I learned this distinction in a class that I took on Arab culture in the spring. An Arab country is one where Arabic is the spoken language. So, there are several countries in the Middle East that are not in the Arab World (such as Pakistan and Afghanistan), and there are several countries in the Arab World that are not in the Middle East. Morocco is one of these. Oftentimes, however, people assume that because it is an Arabic-speaking country and because the dominant religion is Islam, (another misconception about what defines whether or not a country is in the Arab World) some people assume that Morocco is in the Middle East.

Gibbins gives a description of Morocco as a destination “rich in cultural diversity and postcolonial contradictions. Constitutionally an Islamic Arabic country, its geographical location coupled with strong and abiding religious, cultural and social influences of the indigenous population have placed Morocco on a distinct historical and cultural path.” The location of Morocco has opened it to glean from surrounding cultures. Morocco has indeed been a part of the Arab World for hundreds of years, impacted by the same cultural and religious phenomena that have developed in the Middle East. Morocco is a predominately Muslim country, and religion is an integral part of everyday life. The minaret of a mosque rises above the rooftops of every town, schedules are run off of prayer times, and restrictions such as dietary rules (no alcohol or pork) are enforced in many restaurants. France has also left a strong impact, as it occupied Morocco until 1956. Indeed, the first thing that I ate in Morocco was a chocolate croissant (the best that I’ve had!) at a small café where we stopped in downtown Rabat. French is commonly spoken as a second language among Moroccans of all ages. Particularly in the north, Morocco has been impacted by Spain, which is immediately north across the Strait of Gibraltar. I have only had the chance to visit a few cities in northern Morocco, however the Spanish influence can clearly be seen in this region of the country. There are even two cities, Ceuta and Melilla, which are on the African continent on the Moroccan borders but are actually part of Spain. Morocco is also influenced by its greater African identity. One example of this would be Gnawa music, a compilation of Islamic spiritual songs and rhythms with origins in sub-Saharan Africa. Most African influence can be seen in the southern regions of the country. Being an African country so close to Europe, with connections to the Middle East gives Morocco a blend of influences unlike any other.

Morocco has been presented with a homogeneous geographical image, perceived to be a country comprised almost entirely of desert. (There will be more on this later). Expectations are almost entirely made up of sand dunes and palm trees. However, Morocco is divided up into several regions, which vary in topography, climate, and culture. There are deserts, but also mountains, beaches, and fertile plains.

The varying regions of Morocco are affected by their geography, so that clear subcultural distinctions can be seen. Each geographical region has also found a niche in which it can be a marketable destination. Although Marrakech has its Kasbahs and Erfoud has sand dunes… Chefchaouan, a stunning city tucked amidst the Rif Mountains, is well known for its beautiful hiking. The people here are often relaxed and outdoorsy, and walking through the lush green forests is nothing reminiscent of a desert! The coast of Morocco is dotted with lovely seaside towns like Asilah and Essouaria, with many fishermen and vacationers populating the beaches. Ifrane was designed by the French to be a resort town. It is one of the only places in Morocco where it snows, and is well known as a ski destination, and during the winter months may seem more like the Alps than North Africa. Ifrane also has much more of a resort- or college-town atmosphere. The people of Ifrane are used to seeing international students walking through the marche, where in some of the more rural areas where the presence of a white person draws a lot of attention. The atmosphere in each of these very different locations is entirely unique from the others, yet they are each an integral part of Morocco. There are parts of Moroccan culture which seem to be consistent wherever you go: hospitality, conviction, and compassion are values that I have seen in every Moroccan I meet! However, the people in Chefchaouan are much different than those in Erfoud, just as walking through the blue-painted medina is different than through the desert. But the desert is no more of an authentic experience of Morocco than the ski slopes or the beaches. Yet despite all of the differences, the geography from one or two regions in Morocco has been extracted and juxtaposed onto the rest of the country within the destination image.

Based on the geography of Morocco’s destination image, this should be a place which is nearly always hot, dry, and sunny. However, this is most definitely not the case! We had a couple of weeks where it rained every single day. It was with shock and horror that I realized that not all of Africa is a constant warm climate. During our preparation for studying here, we were informed that sometimes at night it would get chilly and bringing a sweatshirt was advised. I took the advice with a grain of salt, thinking “But I’m going to Africa! But I’m going to the DESERT! How cold can it be?” I packed a few long sleeved shirts and pairs of jeans, and one sweatshirt. I still look back regretfully as I think of the moment when I cast aside my fleece jacket, which I had decided against at the last minute because it would barely fit in my already overflowing suitcase. However, all the summery shirts and sundresses that I brought were no match for the nights where the temperature was in the 40s, or when we had rain for several days straight. We have been more fortunate than the students from my university who were here last year, when it snowed before they returned to the States in mid-October. Believe it or not, Africa can be cold!

Most travelers do not arrive in Morocco expecting to encounter snow, lush forests, or fertile agricultural plains. It can come as a surprise to see the diverse geography that Morocco has. Developing a broader destination image could increase the success of tourism for all regions of the country, not just the ones that have been stereotyped! So if you are looking to travel to Morocco, don’t come only looking for oases and deserts, or you might miss the beautiful mountains.