Five nations in Africa border the Mediterranean Sea, and many other African countries border the Atlantic Ocean. But only one African nation has a coastline on the Atlantic and the Mediterranean: Morocco.
Morocco is located in the northwest corner of Africa, where the Mediterranean joins the Atlantic. With its western coast, bathed by the Atlantic, Morocco is the only Arab country that touches the ocean. It is also the closest Arab country to Europe, as part of the Moroccan coast is within sight of Spain.
This African nation has an area of 446,550 square kilometers, larger than California, and a population of more than 35 million people. Most Moroccans live in the fertile strips of land along both coasts, the rest of the country is covered by mountains and deserts.
Morocco was conquered by Arab invaders in the 7th century. The Muslim people of Morocco, whose inhabitants were called Moors, finally conquered most of Spain and formed a kingdom that stretched from Spain to the borders of Egypt.
In later times, the paintings were reversed: Morocco was conquered by the Europeans and divided between France and Spain. In 1956, Morocco gained its independence.
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