Agadir

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Agadir
Panorama of the seaside from the kasbah
Agadir Location in Morocco
Coordinates: 30°25′N 9°35′W / 30.417°N 9.583°W / 30.417; -9.583
Country	Morocco
Region	Souss-Massa-Draâ
Elevation	75 ft (23 m)
Population (2004)
- Total	678,596

Agadir (Arabic: أغادير‎ Aġadīr or Agadīr, Berber (Amazigh): ) is a major city in southwest Morocco, capital of the Agadir province (MA-AGD) and the Sous-Massa-Draa economic region (#13).

Etymology

The word Agadir means in Berber "wall, masoned wall enclosing a town, fortress, town".^[1] It is a loanword from Phoenician.^[2]

Description

Agadir has a population of 678,596 (2004; census figures for the agglomeration include the nearby cities of Inezgane and Aït Melloul). The population of the city proper is estimated at 200,000. The mild winter climate (January average midday temperature 20.5°C/69°F)^[3] and good beaches have made it a major "winter sun" destination for Northern Europeans. The mayor is Tariq Kabbaj.

The city is located on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean, near the foot of the Atlas Mountains, just north of the point where the Souss River flows into the ocean.

Agadir seen by SPOT satellite

Agadir is an important fishing and commercial port, the first sardine port in the world, (exporting cobalt, manganese, zinc and citrus).It is also a seaside resort with a long sandy beach. Because of its large buildings, wide roads, modern hotels, and European-style cafés, Agadir is not a typical city of traditional Morocco, but it is a modern, busy and dynamic town.

Agadir is famous for its sea food and agriculture.

The city's main neighbourhoods are:

• Secteur Touristique
• Founty
• Iligh
• Sonaba
• Ihchach
• Les Amicales
• City Centre
• Nouveau Talborjt
• Cité Suisse
• Lakhiyam
• Dakhla
• Extension Dakhla
• Al Houda
• Salam
• Riad Assalam
• Hay al Hassani
• Anza
• L'Erac (Bouargane).
• Quartier Industriel Tasila
• Tilila
• Quartier Residentiel
• Quartier Al mohammadi

It is served by the Al Massira Airport.

This section requires expansion.

History

During medieval times, there was only a fishing village there, Agadir el-arba`. In 1505 the Portuguese established a trading post named Santa Cruz do Cabo de Gué, under a governor. In 1541, the city came under Wattasid control and in 1572 a stronghold was built on the top of the hill overlooking the bay, the Kasbah. Agadir became prosperous for two centuries. But in 1731, the town was completely destroyed by an earthquake.^[4]

In 1911, the arrival of a German gunboat (the Panther), officially to protect the local German community, triggered the Agadir Crisis between France and Germany which allowed France, in 1913, to occupy nearly the whole kingdom of Morocco.

At 15 minutes to midnight on February 29, 1960, Agadir was almost totally destroyed by an earthquake that lasted 15 seconds, burying the city and killing thousands. The death toll is estimated at 15,000. The earthquake destroyed the ancient Kasbah. On its front gate can still be read the following sentence in Dutch: "Fear God and honour thy King".

On seeing the destruction in Agadir, King Muhammad V of Morocco declared: "If Destiny decided the destruction of Agadir, its rebuilding depends of our Faith and Will." Reconstruction began in 1961, two kilometers south of the earthquake epicentre.

• Agadir Agreement
• Agadir Crisis of 1911
• 1960 Agadir earthquake

This section requires expansion.

Climate

Located along the Atlantic Ocean, Agadir has a very temperate climate. The daytime temperature generally stays in the 20s °C (70s °F) every day, with the winter highs typically reaching 20.7°C (70°F) in December-January (see weather-table below). The annual temperatures^[3] are very similar to Nairobi, Kenya, but with much more rainfall, and the mid-year nights are less chilly than Nairobi.

Museums

Mosque Loubnan in Agadir

• Musee de Talborjt "La Casbah"
• Musee Bert Flint
• Le Musse des Arts Berberes
• Musee Municipal de Agadir
• Le Sicilien Coco Polizzi (Quartier)

Economy

Agadir's economy relies mainly on tourism and fisheries. Agricultural activities are based around the city.^[5]

Transportation

Agadir is served by Al Massira Airport, located 22 kilometers from the city. Agadir has the biggest Souk in Morocco (Souk Lhed)

Education

• Ecole Supérieure de Tourisme et Technologie Hôtelière d'Agadir
• University of Agadir (IbnZohr)
• Faculté des Sciences d'Agadir
• Groupe scolaire Paul Gauguin Agadir
• Lycée Qualifiant Youssef Ben Tachfine

This section requires expansion.

Beaches

Agadir beach

• The most beautiful beaches in Morocco are

North of Agadir entourage Taghazout village, dozens of clean, great beach and Smaller ones along the costs agadir-essaouira: Agadir beach,Tamaounza ( 12 km), aitswal-beach, imouran(km 17), Taghazout (km 19), bouyirdn( km 20), timzguida 3lal (km 22), Aghroud (30 km), Imiouadar(27 km),Aghroud (30 km). [1]

This section requires expansion.

Parks and gardens

• Valée des oiseaux (Birds park & valley )
• Jardin Olhao
• Jardin Ibn Zaidoun

This section requires expansion.

Sister cities

Agadir has four sister cities :

• Miami, United States^{[citation needed]}
• Oakland, United States^{[citation needed]}
• Olhão, Portugal^{[citation needed]}
• Nantes, France^{[citation needed]}

See also

• Al Massira Airport

External links

• Agadir berbers Portal

References

• FallingRain Map - elevation = 30m

Coordinates: 30°24′00″N 09°36′00″W / 30.4°N 9.6°W / 30.4; -9.6

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