Morocco, in Northwestern Africa, has a long history of war and conquest. The Berbers have lived there for thousands of years. In the 7th and 11th centuries, Arabs invaded Morocco and slowly converted the Berbers to Islam. The country was part of the Turkish Ottoman Empire from the 1530s to the 1830s, and belonged to France for part of the 20th century. Morocco remains an Arab country, ruled by King Mohammed VI, a direct descendant of the prophet Mohammed.
Morocco is a popular tourist destination because of its beaches and mountain scenery. The Sahara Desert lies in Southeastern Morocco. This area is harsh and desolate. Few people live there, but oil and gas reserves were discovered in 2000. Previously, elephants and lions roamed Morocco. Today, the land is home to snakes, lizards, small mammals and camels, goats and sheep.
Cities in Morocco are typically Arab. The streets are winding and narrow to provide shade. Homes have only small, high windows, which keep them dark, cool and private. Morocco has a rich heritage of craftsmanship. Markets sell rugs, clothing and beautiful handmade shoes. Morocco is the third largest producer of phosphates in the world. Phosphates are used to make fertilizers and other chemicals.
Fun Facts about Morocco for Kids
- 32.3 million people live in Morocco.
- The country has 172,317 square miles of land.
- Most people are Sunni Muslim.
- The government is a monarchy with a democratic system.
- The life expectancy in Morocco is 71 years.
- 50 percent of adults can read.
Morocco Vocabulary
- Conquest: invasion by another country, seeking to gain power and control
- Descendant: relative
- Destination: intended point of arrival
- Desolate: empty, bleak
- Craftsmanship: skill at creating handmade goods
Learn More All About Morocco
Check out this cool video all about Morocco:
This video is about the famous architectural structures in Morocco that lives on through history.
Morocco Q&A
Question: Why is the literacy rate so low in Morocco?
Answer: Children can go to school from the ages of 7 to 15, but many children stay home to work with their parents. Girls often never go to school.
Map of Morocco
Here’s a map of the country of Morocco and all its cities and villages. Zoom in to get into street level or zoom out to see other countries around Morocco! You can see the terrain, but also see the roads, images of the buildings and even take a 3D tour through the streets of the cities of Morocco, as though you are actually there!
Enjoyed the Easy Earth Science for Kids Website all about Morocco info? Take the FREE & fun all about Morocco quiz and download FREE Morocco worksheet for kids. For lengthy info click here.
