Guercif

Guercif (Arabic: جرسيف ) is a Moroccan town of about 65,000 inhabitants in the region of Taza- Al Hoceïma - Taounate. It is the capital of the homonymous province.

Location

Guercif is located at the lowest point of the province ( approximately 360 m above sea level. Above sea level) between the eastern foothills of the Rif Mountains in the north and those of the Middle Atlas Mountains in the south. Through the town of Oued Moulouya, one of the longest river in Morocco and the only one that flows into the Mediterranean flows. Here the east-west link road N6 intersect with the major north - south route N15. In addition, the city is connected to the completed in 2011 and about 10 km north extending motorway Rabat- Fez - Oujda ( A2). The next largest cities are Taza ( route about 65 km ) and Fez ( about 190 km ) to the west and Nador ( 135 km ) to the north and Oujda ( about 165 miles) to the northeast.

Population

In 1950 Guercif had about 3,600 inhabitants - including 360 Europeans ( mostly French ), 2,835 Moroccans ( about half of Arabs and Berbers ) and 460 Jews. In 1964, the city had about 5,500 inhabitants; Today there are about 65,000. About 80 % of the inhabitants are Berber descent; many have migrated only since the 1970s from their native regions in the small and medium-sized cities. While the Berbers are mostly active in trade, retail trade, transportation, occupies the Arab- burly of the population in general, the leading positions in administration, banking, commerce and industry; In addition, they work as lawyers, doctors, engineers etc..

Economy

In the center of economic events is still agriculture, in which - in addition to the cultivation of cereals ( barley and wheat) - the olive cultivation plays a major role. In its role as provincial capital and regional center administration, health and education, and transportation industries are central to the economic life of the city.

History

In the first millennium AD, the valley of Taza transit area for Roman or Arab- Islamic armies. Otherwise, the region of Taza- Guercif has only played a significant role in the time of the dispute between the Almohads and Marinids in the late 13th century. The Merinidensultan Abu Said Uthman II (r. 1310-1331 ) was the then small city surrounded by a wall made ​​of rammed earth, but of which has received nothing. In the 18th century left a Alawidensultan in the city at that time to build a fortress constructed from rammed earth ( kasbah ).

Attractions

From the only attraction of historical or cultural significance, the Kasbah, no more tracks can be seen. The city has an overall more modern impression.