Population: 554,000 (est.)

Full country name: Kingdom of Morocco

Capital city: Rabat

People: 55% Arab, 44% Berber, 0.7% other

Languages: Arabic (officially) with Berber dialects, as well as French, Spanish and English.

Religion: 98% Muslim, 1% Christian, 1% Jewish

Government: Constitutional monarchy

King: King Mohammed VI

Prime Minister: Abderrahmane El Youssoufi

Major industries: Agriculture, manufacturing, fishing, tourism

Major trading partners: EU, US, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Brazil

Location: On the southern side of the western approaches to the Strait of Gibraltar.

Port of Tangier: Situated in the Bay of Tangier about 7 n mi (13 km) east of Cape Spartel on the northern coast of Morocco. The port is protected by surrounding topography from south, southwest, east and west winds while a breakwater/passenger ship quay 3,970 ft. long shelters the port from the major effects of northwesterly winds.

Time Zone: Greenwich Mean Time is observed throughout the year: Time in Tangier is 5 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time in New York. (6 hours ahead of central time in Chicago, etc.) Daylight Saving time is not observed.

Tours: Hiking in the desert, travel to seaside resorts, trekking, camel back rides, camping in the Sahara are some of the many tour offerings. Check with your hotel.

International Dialing Code: The city code is 09. When calling Tangier from another country, dial the international dialing code of that country, plus 212 + 9 + 6 digit number.

Mobile "jawal" telephones: can be purchased in Tangier from Moroc Télécom (prepaid with a rechargeable card containing 30 min. of outgoing and 30 min. of incoming calls.

Emergency: Call 19 to reach the police.

Accessing email and the internet: El Cafe de Internet Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes 656 Tel.(+343) 4121915 / or 93 302 1154 Cyber Cafés and boutiques offering access to the internet are available in various parts of the city. Check with your hotel for addresses. Major hotels offer access also.

Currency: The Moroccan currency is the dirham (DH). There are 200 DH, 100DH, 50DH, 20DH, and 10DH bills, and 10DH, and 5DH coins. Also there are smaller denominations of coins. The easiest method of securing cash at the best exchange rate is to make withdrawals using a US credit card from the ATM machines found at the major banks and stores. As in the U.S., some banks charge a fee and a transaction tax, so check with the banks to find the best value. Also check before inserting your card, as some machines accept only Moroccan credit cards.

Passport: A full passport with at least 6 months validity is required. No visa is necessary for US citizens. Other travelers should check with the Moroccan consulate in their countries.

Water: Drink only bottled or mineral water, and CONSUME NO ICE. Average Temperatures (In Fahrenheit): High Low January - March 68F 46F April - June 78F 52F July - September 83F 62F October - December 77F 48F

Differences between day and night temperatures can be extreme, even in summer. It is advisable to take warm clothing. Be sure to take sunscreen for use during the day.

National Holidays: Jan. 1 New Year's Day January 11 Declaration of Independence or National Day May 1 Labor Day May 23 National Day July 30 Feast of the Throne August 14 Oath of Allegiance of Oued ed-Dahab August 20 Festival of the Revolution, the King and the People August 21 Youth Day November 6 Green march Day November The month of Ramadan will last from November 16- December 14 of the year 2001 (varies from year to year according to Muslim calendar). December 6 Constitution Day November 18 Independence Day Note: During the month of Ramadan most bars and restaurants are closed during the day.

Electricity: 110-V and 220-V plugs exist side by side in Tangier. Check with your hotel.

How to get around:

Bus Buses that operate in the city do not have air conditioning. City owned buses are often over crowded. There is no network map. There are bus signs in Arabic here and there. (It is best to use buses only if you already know the city).

CTM (Compaigne des Transportes du Moroc) CTM, headquartered in Casablanca, owns a newer fleet of buses which are air conditioned and carry up to 56 passengers. They cover most of Morocco. tel. 02-45 80 00.

Cars Morocco has one of the best road networks in Africa. There are also gas stations and repair shops conveniently located. Avoid driving at night. A car can often be included in one's airfare price. Be sure the price includes insurance and government tax. Road signs are in French and in Arabic.

Ferries Boats or hovercraft cross from France (Sète) and Spain (Algeciras and Almeria) and Gibralter.

Taxis Grand Taxis are collective, interurban "big" vehicles. Negotiate the fare before boarding. They usually wait until they are full before departing. Petits taxis are individual small taxis that can be found in every town. They are cheap and have a meter. Be sure the driver starts it as you start your journey, and that is set to the base rate.

Air Royal Air Maroc is the national air carrier and provides domestic and international service. Many other foreign airlines serve Morocco, including Air France, British Airways and Saudia. Scheduled flights from all major cities in the Middle East, Europe and North America (New York and Montreal) serve Morocco