Imsouane
| Imsouane إمسوان ⵉⵎⵙⵡⴰⵏ |
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| Basic data | |||||
| State : |
 Morocco
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| Region : | Souss-Massa | ||||
| Prefecture : | Agadir-Ida ou Tanane | ||||
| Coordinates | 30 ° 51 ′ N , 9 ° 49 ′ W | ||||
| Residents : | 8,866 | ||||
| Height : | 20 m | ||||
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Imsouane ( Arabic إمسوان, Tifinagh script ⵉⵎⵙⵡⴰⵏ Imswan ) is a small coastal town on the Atlantic Ocean in southern Morocco . Since 1992 Imsouane has been the capital of a rural community (commune rurale) consisting of several villages (douars ) with a total of almost 9,000 inhabitants.
Location and climate
Imsouane is located on the Moroccan Atlantic coast about 80 km (driving distance) north of Agadir and about 95 km south of Essaouira at heights between 0 and 250 m . The hinterland is formed by the western foothills of the High Atlas Mountains. The climate is influenced to a large extent by the Atlantic, rain (approx. 260 mm / year) falls almost exclusively in the winter half-year.
population
| year | 1994 | 2004 | 2014 |
| Residents | 8,645 | 9,353 | 8,866 |
The inhabitants of earlier times were exclusively Berbers , but as a result of increasing modernization (connection to the electricity, water and telephone network) and the associated building boom in the area around Agadir, many newcomers from other regions of Morocco have arrived. Moroccan Arabic is spoken mainly , but French and English are also spoken; in the hinterland, however, the regional Berber dialect is still predominantly spoken.
economy
Whereas in earlier times fishing and agriculture in the villages of the hinterland formed the basis of economic life, the various forms of maritime tourism (swimming, surfing, windsurfing, sailing, diving, etc.) have been added in recent decades.
history
As of almost all Berber towns in southern Morocco, almost nothing is known about Imsouane's earlier history; Oral traditions only report disputes between different Berber tribes. The place received the municipal status in 1992.
Attractions
Apart from its bathing and surfing beaches, Imsouane has no historical or culturally significant attractions. However, much has remained more original and simple than in Agadir or Taghazout .
