Oriental (Morocco) Explained

Oriental
Settlement Type:Region
Coordinates:34.6833°N -55°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: Morocco
Seat Type:Capital
Seat:Oujda
Leader Title:Wali (Governor)
Leader Name:Mohamed Mhidia
Leader Title1:President
Leader Name1:Abdenbi Bioui
Area Total Km2:90127
Population Total:2314346
Population As Of:2014
Website:conseilregionoriental.ma
Timezone:CET
Utc Offset:+1

Oriental région or Oujda region (Arabic: الشرق|aš-šarq) is one of the twelve regions of Morocco, located in the north-eastern part of the country. It covers an area of 90,127 km2 and has a population of 2,314,346 (2014 census) and is the easternmost region of Morocco.

The capital and the largest city is Oujda, and the second largest city is Nador. The region includes 7 provinces and one prefecture.

A majority of the population of Oriental speak Moroccan Arabic (86.2%) as a first or second language. A large minority speak the Rif-Berber language (38.4%) as a first language. Small numbers speak Eastern Middle Atlas Tamazight and Figuig Tamazight, principally in the south of Oriental.[1]

Etymology

The English name Oriental is derived from the French term L'Oriental (for "the east") and comes directly from the Latin orientalis, "of the east", being that the region is located in the east of Morocco.[2] The Arabic name Ash-Sharq also means "the east".

Geography

Oriental is situated in the northeastern part of the country, with a northern coastline on the Mediterranean Sea. The region of Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima, lie to its northwest, Fès-Meknès to its west, Drâa-Tafilalet to the southwest, with the Algerian provinces of Tlemcen and Naâma to its east and Béchar to the south. Melilla, a Spanish autonomous city, also borders the region. In 2015, Oriental was expanded to include Guercif Province.

The region is made up into the following prefectures and provinces:[3]

Municipalities by population (2014)

Name Province/Prefecture Population (2014)
Oujda-Angad 494,252
Nador Province 161,726
Berkane Province 109,237
Taourirt Province 103,398
Nador Province 56,582
Nador Province 47,599
Jerada Province 43,506
Taourirt Province 41,832
Nador Province 37,737
Nador Province 35,806
Nador Province 34,025
Berkane Province 30,202
Figuig Province 28,846
Nador Province 26,884
Nador Province 23,218
Nador Province 21,570
Berkane Province 20,513
Berkane Province 19,630
Nador Province 18,490
MtalssaDriouch Province 16,787
Figuig Province 16,166
Figuig Province 16,149
Berkane Province 16,137
Figuig Province 15,390
Driouch Province 17,042
Driouch Province 14,741
Driouch Province 14,257
Driouch Province 13,920
Jerada Province 13,526
Figuig Province 12,516
[4]

Notable people

Arts & Cinema

Sports

Politics & Diplomats

Other

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Population selon les langues nationales par régions en 2014 (%). https://web.archive.org/web/20151022054154/http://rgph2014.hcp.ma/attachment/611748/. dead. 22 October 2015. 30. 23 Dec 2016. 13 Oct 2015.
  2. Web site: Online Etymology Dictionary. www.etymonline.com. Douglas Harper. 21 September 2015.
  3. Web site: Décret fixant le nom des régions . 2015-07-11 . Portail National des Collectivités Territoriales . fr . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150518083233/http://www.pncl.gov.ma/fr/EspaceJuridique/DocLib/d%C3%A9cret%20fixant%20le%20nombre%20des%20r%C3%A9gions.pdf . 2015-05-18 .
  4. Web site: Recensement général de la population et de l'habitat 2014 . Hcp.ma . 2015-09-14 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150914233759/http://www.hcp.ma/region-oriental/RGPH-2014-resultats-du-recensement_a55.html . 2015-09-14 .