Kenitra

Kenitra
Kenitra Location in Morocco
Coordinates: 34°15′N 6°35′W / 34.25°N 6.583°W / 34.25; -6.583
Country	Morocco
Region	Gharb-Chrarda-Béni Hssen
Province	Province of Kénitra
Population (2004)
- Total	374,041
Time zone	WET (UTC+0)
- Summer (DST)	WEST (UTC+1)

Kenitra (Arabic name: القنيطرة, transliterated: Al-Qonaitirah, the little bridge) is a city in Morocco, formerly known as Port Lyautey. It is a port on the Sebou River, has a population of approximately 374,041 (2005 census),^{[citation needed]} and is the capital of the Gharb-Chrarda-Béni Hssen region.

History

In terms of some of the earliest known prehistory of this area, the Phoenicians settled the coastline along this part of Morocco as early as the first millennium BC. The major settlement nearest Kenitra was Chellah, somewhat to the south along the banks of the Oued Bou Regreg.^[1]

Before the French protectorate, there was only a kasbah in the area where the modern city can today be found. Established in 1912 by Hubert Lyautey, the first Resident-General in Morocco, as a French military fort, harbor and town. The port at Kenitra was opened in 1913.^[2]

Kenitra draws its name from a culvert built on the Fouarat river upstream of the kasbah. This culvert was destroyed in 1928. In 1933, the French officially named the locale "Port Lyautey". It was renamed "Kenitra" in 1956 as Morocco gained its independence.

U.S. naval base

After Operation Torch, the Americans used the French facilities as a military base. Craw Field, named for Medal of Honor recipient Colonel Demas T. Craw who was killed during Operation Torch, was the final destination of the six K-ships of United States Navy Blimp Squadron ZP-14 (Blimpron 14, The Africa Squadron) that made the first transatlantic crossing of non-rigid airships in 1944.^[3]. Later, the base at Kenitra was expanded to become a U.S. Naval Air Station.^[4] The base was shared by both the USA and Morocco through "The Cold War". A small out-station at Sidi Yahya closed in the mid 1970s. The Air-Station was closed in 1991.

Areas and neighborhoods

• Médina
  • Khabazate

• Modern city
  • Mimosa
  • Ville Haute

• Popular districts
  • Saknia
  • Ouled Oujih
  • Bir Rami

Colleges and universities

• Université Ibn Tofail (UIT)
• ENCG Kénitra (École Nationale de Commerce et de Gestion de Kénitra)
• HECI Kénitra (Hautes Etudes Commerciales et Informatiques)
• ENSA Kénitra (École Nationale des Sciences Appliquées de Kénitra)

Transportation

The city is served by two railway stations: Kenitra-Ville and Kenitra-Medina. A shuttle train, TNR, connects the city, every 30 minutes, to Rabat and Casablanca.

A high-speed rail line to Tangier is planned to be completed in 2013 (see Kenitra-Tangier high-speed rail line).

Sports

• KAC Kenitra ; the local football club.
• Ajax Kenitra ; the local futsal club.

Natives from Kenitra

Kenitra was the birthplace of:

• Said Aouita, Olympic athlete
• Amina Ait Hammou, Olympic athlete
• Youssef Chippo, International football player
• Boulahyawi, International football player
• Boussati, International football player

See also

• Bouknadel
• Hubert Lyautey
• Battle for Port Lyautey
• Badr Hari

Notes and references

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Kenitra

• Premier Portail d'information de La ville de Kenitra
• Entry in Lexicorient
• BTS Genie Informatique Lycee Technique Ibn Sina
• Association Nationale des Professeurs Agreges du Maroc - ANAPAM -
• Pictures of U.S. Naval base facilities in Kenitra
• Histoire de Kenitra / Port-Lyautey en images de 1911 au 1956

http://mimouniouafae.webs.com/ photos de kenitra

Coordinates: 34°15′N 6°35′W / 34.25°N 6.583°W / 34.25; -6.583