Google Sightseeing » Morocco

The Moroccan Wall

Ian Brown — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 16:32:58 +0000

The controversial Moroccan Wall, or The Berm, is a system of 3m-high walls at least 2,500km long that was built to completely divide the entire country of Western Sahara.

Constructed by Moroccan forces between 1980 and 1987, Morocco considers the area to the west of the wall to be its Southern Provinces, and decided to protect them from Polisario forces seeking Western Sahara’s independence.

The protected area was initially just a small portion of the north-western part of the country, but by building a succession of six different walls, the Moroccans expanded their territory to occupy the majority of the country.

The area east of the wall is called the Free Zone and is controlled by the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, though refugees from the area currently live in Algeria. UN troops are active in the area attempting to enforce cease-fire agreements, though landmines are still a major problem. Polisario supporters have labelled the barrier the Wall of Shame.

The wall begins its journey to Morocco at the Atlantic coast, and on its way crosses mountainous areas, as well as barren, unpopulated desert – where it’s often overrun by sand dunes.

Despite these breaches, the combination of walls, fences, and bunkers makes for a formidable obstruction, thanks to manned observation posts – which in some areas are positioned as regularly as every kilometre.

These forward posts are supported by larger, more heavily armed posts, one of which we can see here next to an ‘official’ border post in the south. Elsewhere we can see what looks like the charred remains of another. I wonder what happened here?

Mosque of Hassan II

James Turnbull — Sat, 09 Sep 2006 11:00:11 +0000

Built on reclaimed land within Casablanca, Morocco is the Mosque of Hassan II – the second largest religious monument in the world.

Work started in 1986 to celebrate the 60th Birthday of Morocco’s then king, Hassan II. The most impressive part of this building is easily the world’s tallest minaret at 210m tall. Clearly seen from miles around the minaret is further highlighted by a green laser beam that each night points from the top towards Mecca.

Ground level photos and Wikipedia link

Thanks: Ross Burnett, Frank Castle, gabe & Patrick

Locations: Morocco / Categories: Buildings

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Saharan Shipwrecks

Alex Turnbull — Fri, 11 Aug 2006 10:00:15 +0000

Er, Saharan Shipwrecks? Yup, shipwrecks in the desert! Okaaaay, so it’s the beach, but it is the Sahara

Just down the coast there’s another wreck, and as I zoomed out from there I found a third!

Flickr has a picture of a shipwreck on the coast of Western Sahara, but I don’t think it’s any of these three! Can anyone find it?

Update: Reader Brandon found an astonishing 6 more shipwrecks on this strip of coastline! The last two are actually just across the border in Morocco but we’re totally letting that slip

Thanks to Patrick!

Locations: Morocco, Western Sahara / Categories: Deserts, Watercraft

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