Al Hoceima is a city on the northern edge of the Rif Mountains and on the Mediterranean coast. It's a known tourist destination despite its small size. It is characterised by its shining sandy beaches like Cala Iris, Bades, Torres, Quemado, and Tala Youssef, and its mountainous rocky areas. It has a population of about 57,000 people.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors.
The population in this area belongs predominantly to the ethnic group of Berbers. The region was part of Spanish Morocco from 1912 to 1956. The native Berbers declared their independence in 1920 and founded the Rif Republic. Their capital was the small town of Ajdir, today a suburb of Al Hoceima. However, the Spaniards did not recognise the new state and fought it violently with the help of French. In this war Spain used mustard gas bombs on a massive scale, contrary to international law. The effects are still being felt today: the area has far more cases of lung cancer than the national average.
1 Islas Alhucemas – an island administered by Spain. 2 Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera – a peninsula only populated by Spanish military 1 Al Hoceima National Park. The park is characterised by high limestone cliffs and a wild rocky coast. (updated Jan 2023)
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
In Aug, Al Hoceima typically sees ~30°C daytime highs and 0 rainy days.
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