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Information about the city of Chefchaouen |
Chefchaouen, known as the Blue City, is located in northern Morocco in the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region. It was founded in 1471 by Moulay Ali Ben Rachid to provide refuge for the Muslims of Andalusia after their expulsion by the Spanish. The city served as a fortress for fighters against colonization.
Chefchaouen boasts a cultural lifestyle that emerged from centuries of mingling traditions and customs. Its natural beauty, which God bestowed upon its geographical area, led to its designation in 2010 as a symbol of the Mediterranean Diet by UNESCO.
In addition to its cultural components, traditional crafts, local products, and natural landscapes, especially agricultural scenes, enhance its significance. Here, we explore information about the city of Chefchaouen.
Location of Chefchaouen
Chefchaouen is located on the African continent, specifically in the far western part of Morocco. It lies in the mountain range known as the Rif Mountains. To the north, it borders the Mediterranean Sea, which provides a coastal strip exceeding 120 square kilometers. To the south, it borders the provinces of Ouezzane and Taounate. To the east is the province of Al Hoceima, and to the west are the provinces of Larache and Tetouan. The total area of the Chefchaouen province is approximately 4,350 square kilometers.
Area of Chefchaouen
The Chefchaouen province is located in the northwest of the country, in the western Rif Mountains. It is bordered to the north by the Mediterranean Sea with a coastline of about 120 kilometers, to the south by the provinces of Taounate and Ouezzane, to the east by Al Hoceima, and to the west by the provinces of Tetouan and Larache. It is part of the Tanger-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region and covers an area of 3,115 square kilometers, with an average population density of 101 inhabitants per square kilometer.
The city of Chefchaouen is situated at the foot of Mount El-Kalaa and is surrounded by mountain peaks such as Tisouka, Bouhachem, and Maku. It is about 60 kilometers southeast of the city of Tetouan. The urban area of Chefchaouen spans 11.4 square kilometers, including the old city, neighborhoods outside the walls, and areas like Aderar and Aoyun, as well as rural and unstructured neighborhoods such as Rouzgim, Turghin, and Dahr Ben Ayad. The urban municipality of Chefchaouen is divided into three districts for administrative purposes. According to the 2014 census, the urban municipality of Chefchaouen has a population of approximately 57,329 inhabitants.