Moulay Bousselham
| Moulay Bousselham مولاي بو سلهام ⵎⵓⵍⴰⵢ ⴱⵓⵙⵍⵀⴰⵎ |
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| Basic data | |||||
| State : |
 Morocco
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| Region : | Rabat-Salé-Kénitra | ||||
| Province : | Kénitra | ||||
| Coordinates | 34 ° 53 ′ N , 6 ° 18 ′ W | ||||
| Residents : | 7,372 (2014) | ||||
| Height : | 15 m | ||||
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Moulay Bousselham ( Arabic مولاي بو سلهام, Central Atlas Tamazight ⵎⵓⵍⴰⵢ ⴱⵓⵙⵍⵀⴰⵎ = "gentleman with the burnous ") is a small town of about 8,000 inhabitants and capital of a rural community with a total of about 28,000 inhabitants in the province of Kenitra in the Region Rabat-Sale-Kénitra in northwest Morocco .
Location and climate
The small town of Moulay Bousselham is located on a hill on the Atlantic coast at a height of about 5 to 35 m . The provincial capital Kenitra and the provincial capital Rabat are about 97 and 140 km (driving distance) in a south-westerly direction. The climate influenced by the Atlantic is temperate to warm; Rain (approx. 620 mm / year) falls almost exclusively in the winter half-year.
population
| year | 1994 | 2004 | 2014 |
| Residents | k. A. | 5,693 | 7,372 |
A large part of today's population is of Berber descent and has immigrated from the mountain and desert regions of Morocco since the 1960s.
economy
Until the early 20th century there was only a simple fishing village here . Only during the French colonial period did the local development gradually begin, which was to intensify after the independence of Morocco (March 2, 1956). Today's small town offers the economic and social infrastructure (trade, handicrafts, banks, schools, etc.) for the townspeople and the people in the surrounding villages. There are also numerous restaurants as well as private rooms, hotels and pensions for tourists.
history
At the center of the local history are the (partly legendary) episodes about a man who came from Egypt in the middle of the 16th century and who was killed in the battle of the three kings (August 4, 1578). Then he was buried in the coastal town, which resulted in several miracles. Later a small mausoleum ( qubba ) was built over his grave, which is visited by many pilgrims every summer . As a result, other "holy men" came here, whose dome tombs are scattered across the city.
Since the 1960s, the fishing village has developed into a seaside resort, in which today many Moroccans, but also Europeans, spend a few hours or days on the beach.
Attractions
- The mausoleum may not be entered by unbelievers ; it is usually closed.
- The beach and the surrounding area with the Merja Zerga lagoon lake are quite charming; the local fishermen often sell their catch on the beach.
