Jerada (municipality)
| Jerada جرادة ⵊⵔⴰⴷⴰ |
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| Basic data | |||||
| State : |
 Morocco
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| Region : | Oriental | ||||
| Province : | Jerada | ||||
| Coordinates | 34 ° 19 ′ N , 2 ° 10 ′ W | ||||
| Residents : | 43,506 (2014) | ||||
| Area : | 17.2 km² | ||||
| Population density : | 2,529 inhabitants per km² | ||||
| Height : | 1065 m | ||||
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Jerada ( Arabic جرادة; Central Atlas Tamazight ⵊⵔⴰⴷⴰ ) is a provincial capital with around 40,000 inhabitants in the Oriental region in north-east Morocco .
location
Jerada is located in a semi-desert-like environment approx. 63 km (driving distance) southwest of Oujda at an altitude of approx. 1065 m . Due to the altitude, Jerada has a comparatively temperate climate. The climate is dry and semi-desert like; the average annual rainfall is around 340 mm; they mostly fall in the winter half-year.
population
| year | 1994 | 2004 | 2014 |
| Residents | 59,367 | 43,916 | 43.506 |
The population growth that has continued since the city was founded came to a standstill after the closure of a coal mine located here towards the end of the 20th century.
economy
Until 1998 coal was mined in a mine near Jerada ; Until 2018, workers continued to dig in self-made pits and on their own until there were accidents with fatalities. Today the city is characterized by retail trade, handicrafts and service companies of all kinds. The local coal-fired power station now burns cheaper black African imported coal. A solar park is to be built in the vicinity of the city .
history
Before the colonial era began, Jerada was a small Berber town. After coal was discovered, workers were summoned from all over the country. The city's official founding date is 1927.
In 1948 there were religiously motivated pogroms against the Jewish minority ( pogroms of Oujda and Jerada ).
In the years after the coal mine was shut down, there were repeated protests by workers and the population, which were initially only observed by the official side, but were ultimately banned.
Cityscape
The cityscape varies between modern and slum-like neighborhoods; it has several mosques . The approximately 50 m high overburden mountain is striking .