Al Hoceïma (Province)
Al Hoceïma ( Arabic إقليم الحسيمة, Central Atlas Tamazight ⵜⴰⵙⴳⴰ ⵏ ⵍⵃⵓⵙⵉⵎⴰ Tasga n Lḥusima ) is a province in Morocco . It has belonged to the Tanger-Tétouan-Al Hoceïma region since the administrative reform of 2015 and is located in the north of the country, on the Mediterranean coast . The province, which covers around 3540 km², has around 400,000 inhabitants (2014) in 5 cities and 31 rural communities ( communes rurales ). The provincial capital is the city of the same name, Al Hoceïma .
geography
The province has numerous bathing bays on the Mediterranean coast, which, however, are difficult to reach because of the impassable terrain. The hinterland belonging to the Rif Mountains culminates in the approximately 2450 m high Jbel Tidirhine . While the coastal strip has little rain, there is significantly more rainfall in the hinterland.
economy
For centuries there were only small fishing villages on the coast; the city of Al Hoceïma was not established until the 20th century. Since around 1980 there have been regular ferry connections to Almería and Motril in Andalusia . Because of Morocco's comparatively rainy climate, the hinterland is quite fertile, but the mountainous and rugged landscape is an obstacle to economic development. In the vicinity of Issaguen and Ketama, cannabis is grown on a large scale, but on small areas .
Biggest places
Five places marked with (M) are classified as towns ( municipalités ); the rest are considered rural communities ( communes rurales ) and each consist of several villages.
local community | Residents | ||
---|---|---|---|
1994 | 2004 | 2014 | |
Al Hoceïma (M) | 55.216 | 55,357 | 56,716 |
Bni Bouayach (M) | 13,127 | 15,497 | 18,271 |
Imzouren (M) | 25,547 | 26,575 | 33,852 |
Targuist (M) | 9,593 | 11,560 | 13,390 |
Ajdir (M) | - | 3,987 | 5,314 |
Abdelghaya Souahel | 19,494 | 24,013 | 25,817 |
Issues | 12,799 | 15,924 | 17,095 |
Ketama | 13,444 | 15,924 | 17,351 |
Tamsaout | 10,208 | 12,610 | 13,711 |
Aït Youssef Ou Ali | 15,592 | 12,474 | 12,673 |
Nekkour | 11,857 | 11,524 | 8,963 |
Sidi Boutmim | 10,592 | 10,242 | 9,988 |
Bni Boufrah | 10,280 | 10,298 | 9,653 |
Bni Gmil Maksouline | 8,487 | 9,915 | 9,593 |
Senada | 10,066 | 9,870 | 9,176 |