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[ARCHIVE] [SASSYandsisters] Arabic Word of the Day [61-70]

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Deleted User 114

[ARCHIVE] [SASSYandsisters] Arabic Word of the Day [61-70]

Post by Deleted User 114 »

These posts were originally written by SASSYandsisters.

Lesson 61

https://archive.ph/LIg2s

Hello passengers! Today we’re going to take a long flight from our visit to Bahrain all the way to a beautiful island just off Africa’s east coast; Comoros! [don’t forget to put your seat belts on!]

1# The islands of Comoros are mostly volcanic with interiors that range from low hills to steep mountains.

2# Comoros has three official languages which are Comorian, Arabic and French.

3# Nearly 98% are Sunni Muslims and the remaining 2% are Roman Catholics.

4# Comoros is a “Federal republic”. It gained independence from France on 6, July 1975 and celebrate their National holiday every year.

5# The literacy rate is only 56.5% [the total percent of a population that can read and write] compared to 26 countries in the world acing with a literacy rate of 100%

6# The capital of Comoros since 1962 is Moroni which is also the largest city in the country situated on the island of Grande Comore.

7# Comoros is the largest producer of ylang-ylang which is an ingredient used in the making of fragrance oils.

8# Comoros’s population was only 734,917 in 2013.

9# The average life span here is 56 years

10# The climate of Comoros is tropical marine, with a rainy season from November to May… bit like the UK, you could say! I wouldn’t say that but ok!

11# There are around 20 species of bird that are endemic to Comoros, along with the Mongoose Lemur, which after being introduced from Madagascar, is now only found on 2 islands in Comoros!

12# Comoros offers one of the world’s largest coral atolls which parades hundreds of fish species, shells, and corals.

13# Comorian is the dominant native language. It is more of a Swahili dialect. It is transcribed in Arabic in its written form. Arabic is the second most dominant language. French comes in third, although it is the official language of instruction in schools and the main language of official business. However, less than half of the population speaks French.

14# Comoros was frequented by travelers from Africa, Madagascar, Indonesia, and Arabia before the first Europeans encountered the islands. Arabic influence has been the strongest.

15# Comorian youth organize village dances. Musical tastes are diverse; people enjoy Western popular music and reggae, as well as traditional dance music.

16# Comorians eat mostly imported rice, usually with a fish or meat sauce. Plentiful local fish (tuna, barracuda, wahoo, and red snapper) are the main source of protein. Cassava is eaten fried, boiled, or grilled. Taro, green bananas, breadfruit, and potatoes (both white and sweet) are often served. Chicken, goat, and imported beef are popular meats. Pork is forbidden by Islam.

17# The life expectancy in Comoros in 2016 was estimated at 63.7 years old. This may seem quite high, but if you compare this number to the UK’s life expectancy of 80.96 or Japan’s 83.98, it is quite low.

18# Accurate of 2017, Comoros’ population was 813,912 only but has one of the highest population densities in the world

18 Facts about Comoros today! Hope you enjoyed them and learnt something new because I did as well ;D Any more facts on this unique country, feel free to share them with us! That’d be great! ;)

Goodnight!

Lesson 62

https://archive.ph/B1ARR

Hello! Today we're going to continue our journey, flying from the islands of Comoros to a nearby [ish] country in Africa called Djibouti! :D

1# Djibouti is a country located in the Horn of Africa.

2# The official Name of Djibouti is the Republic of Djibouti.

3# Total Population of Djibouti is only 810,179.

4# Residents of the Djibouti are known as Djiboutians.

5# Djibouti is the third smallest country in Africa continental.

6# The official currency of Djibouti is Djiboutian Franc.

7# Lac Assal of Djibouti is the saltiest lake with the exception of Antarctica’s lakes. It is even saltier than the Dead Sea.

8# Guelleh was first President of Djibouti in 1999 .

9# Djibouti gained freedom from France in 1977.

10# Taxi fares at night increase by around 50% after sunset.

11# Moucha Island is the largest island in Djibouti.

12# Has a life expectancy of only 62.46 years [again, quite low]

13# Has an average of 51.5 infant mortality [aka: around 51 babies die in every 1000] accurate at 2017

14# The official languages of Djibouti are Arabic and French.

15# Erta Ale is a volcano that settles in the Danakil Desert

16# Approximately 90% of Djibouti’s land is a desert.

17# The total land area of Djibouti is 23,200 square kilometers.

18# The Gulf of Tadjoura is one of the richest areas in the world for coral and fish species located in eastern Djibouti.

19# The Djibouti Francolin (one of over forty species of francolins, a group of birds) is only found in the horn of Africa.

20# Christmas in Djibouti is celebrated on January 7, not on December 25.

21# The national animal of Djibouti is the Elk.

22# Djibouti is a growing country generating approximately 73,000 visitors per year.

23# The most popular sport amongst Dijiboutians is football

24# Qat, the favourite plant of Djibouti is banned in many European countries.

25# The unemployment rate in Djibouti was 52.33 percent until 2010.

26# Khat is a flowering plant and Khat chewing is common in Djibouti.

27# Djibouti has one of the highest rates of illiteracy in the world.

28# The Djibouti’s population is divided into two tribes, the Issa of Somali and the Afar.

29# Nearly 94% of the population is Muslim while the remaining 6% are Christian.

30# Djibouti has a semiarid climate that is very hot and dry.

31# Djibouti was known as French Somaliland till 1967.

32# Hussein Ahmed Salah from Djibouti was the only person who won a bronze medal at the Olympics in the marathon in 1988.

32 facts on Djibouti! Add that to your long term memory! You never know, you might ever decide to go on a trip to a beautiful yet modest Arabic country! :D

I thought that Christmas getting celebrated in January was quite unusual [I'm going to search it!] Which fact did you find the most interesting? :)

Anyways, thanks for reading! Any thoughts or other facts, feel free to comment below, thanks again! ;D

Lesson 63

https://archive.ph/4bsaA

Hey everyone! Today we're going to slide from Djibouti all the way to possibly the most popular destination in Africa; Egypt! Enjoy! Also, I hope you're enjoying the new Arabic release! :

  • Cairo is the most populated city in Egypt and it’s also the capital city.

  • The official language of Egypt is Arabic, but some people also speak other languages like French and English.

  • The official name of Egypt is Jumhuriyat Misr al3arabiya, meaning “the Arab Republic of Egypt” in English. The Egyptians also refer to their country as Misr [In Arabic remember?]

  • With a total estimate of about 92.1 million people, Egypt is the largest Arab country in the world. It ranks higher than Iraq and Saudi Arabia which ranks 2nd and 3rd respectively.

  • Egypt is the 15th country with the highest population in the world, with 99% of the country’s people living on just 5.5% of the land.

  • Tourism is a major economic activity in Egypt, accounting for about 12% of the country’s workforce.

    By virtue of area, Egypt is the 30th biggest country in the world. It measures approximately 1,001,450 square miles, which is almost 10 times larger than South Korea.

  • The shape of the Egyptian pyramids is said to have been inspired by the sun rays. According to the beliefs of the ancient Egyptians, the king’s soul ascended along the sun rays to the sun god.

  • The Egyptian Flag is tricolor consisting of red, white and black colors. The red color is a representation of the struggle against the British colonialists before their independence. White represents the 1952 revolution that ended the monarchy without a war, while black symbolizes the oppression of the Egyptian under the British rule.

    Egypt has the most Facebook users compared to any other country in the Middle East. It ranks 21st in the world, with an average of more than 20.14 million internet users. This social network highly contributed and led to the success of the 2011 Egyptian revolution.

  • Gypsy is a short name for “Egyptian”.

  • Egyptian hieroglyphs have over 700 symbols. This ancient language was used by Egyptians to write down their history and communicate, making it one of the earliest languages to be used. Much of what people know about Egypt is as a result of hieroglyphic writing found in archeological sites.

  • Most Egyptian traditions and festivals trace their origin back to the time of pharaohs. The Egyptians also draw many traditions from their religion (Islam).

  • Egypt is largely covered by a desert, receiving only 20mm of rain per year.

  • Approximately 95% of Egypt’s population lives along the banks of river Nile, which is known to be the longest river on the globe.

  • Though Egypt is 90% desert, approximately 30% of their workforce is in agriculture.

  • Id al Fitr is one of the biggest celebrations in Egypt. It comes immediately after Ramadan and the Egyptians bake special cookies and host parties.

  • Islam is the common religion with 90% of the population being Muslims.

  • The most popular sport in Egypt is soccer but they also take part in tennis, squash, and swimming.

  • Of all the Arab countries, Egypt is the only one that has a movie industry.

  • Besides Cairo, other major cities in Egypt are Alexandria and Giza.

  • Egypt is known for their two major deserts, the Libyan and the Sahara Desert. These deserts cover a significant part of the country’s land.

  • The pyramid of Giza is among the seven wonders of both the ancient and the modern world.

  • Landslides, Flash floods, and droughts are some of the natural disasters that affect the people of Egypt. Other common calamities in Egypt include Sandstorms, dust-storms, and windstorms, also known as “Khamsin”.

  • Aged over 5000 years, the oldest dress in the world is found in Egypt.

  • Egypt’s national animal is the Steppe eagle. The Egyptian flag also features the eagle of Saladin, inspired by ancient Egyptian texts written all over temples to signify dignity and pride.

  • The renowned statue of liberty was intended to be installed in the land of the Pharaohs (Egypt).

  • The famous pyramid of Giza has some passageways that have never been explored. This pyramid actually has 8 sides and not four as most people believe.

  • Visitors are expected to take off their shoes before going into religious buildings.

  • Egypt ranks 124th in the world in terms of life expectancy. The average life expectancy is 72.66 years, with males living for about 70.07 years while the female range at 75.38 years.

  • In an attempt to conquer the frequent annual flooding of the river Nile, Egypt has one of the largest manmade dams: Aswan high dam.

  • The oldest surviving mathematical work in Egypt is titled “The Entrance into the Knowledge of All Existing Things and All Obscure Secrets”. This work was written by Ahmes in the 1650 B.C. its written on the Rhine mathematical papyrus.

  • The Beqa is the oldest standard weight used in Egypt. Its still used in the modern world.

  • The Ancient Egyptian religion has over 14,000 gods and goddesses.

  • Egypt has the oldest prosthetic limb in the world. The wooden toe belonged to an ancient Egyptian woman at around 1000 B.C.

  • The world’s oldest D20 dice was found in Egypt. It dates back to around 30 B.C.

  • There are about 2,060 square kilometers of unclaimed land in the border between Sudan and Egypt.

  • Egypt’s lost city of Heracleion was discovered under the sea after 1200 years.

  • The Egyptian mummies were found to contain traces of cocaine and nicotine.

I think that personally I found this post to be one of the most interesting ones I’ve done mainly because there was plenty of facts to choose from as Egypt is a very popular destination, especially with the [no offence] Westerners who don’t know their Geography ;p [some of them do; but it’s rare]

Anyways! Thanks for reading! If you found this interesting, you might like this blog I found on some traditional Egyptian food [fava beans came up first of course! XD] I’ll link it below! Have a Nice Night and sorry if I don’t reply quickly to your comments [quite busy] :D

[https://alittlenomad.com/blog/tradition ... tian-food/]

Lesson 64

https://archive.ph/5d7bh

Today we’re taking a journey, jumping from Africa to Asia! Luckily our last destination happened to be the only country in the world connected to Asia and Africa so this should be easy ;p So our new location should be… Iraq! A wonderful [yet very unlucky] country in the Middle East! Hope you enjoy the following facts I’ve picked out for you:

1# Iraq is a country in Western Asia that borders Turkey to the north, Iran to the east, Kuwait to the southeast, Saudi Arabia to the south, Jordan to the southwest, and Syria to the west.

2# The largest ethnic group in Iraq are Arabs, Kurds form the largest minority, and other ethnic groups include Assyrians, Turcoman, Shabaki, Armenians, Mandeans, Circassians and Kawliya.

3# Two major rivers, the Tigris and Euphrates, run south through the center of Iraq and flow into the Shatt al-Arab near the Persian Gulf. These rivers provide Iraq with significant amounts of fertile land.

4# Abbasid Palace in Baghdad is definitely worth visiting and will leave you marvelling. This superb palace looking over the Tigris River will remind you of the 13th century. In the capital city of Iraq, this is among the most ancient buildings. This palace also reminds of the time in history back when Baghdad used to be a hub of business operations and learning.

5# The monument made by Mohammad Ghani is located in Ali Baba Square, which is a depiction of the shrewd Murjana, Kahramana (the housekeeper of Ali Baba), and the forty thieves.

6# The Arch of Ctesiphon is located towards the east of Baghdad along the Tigris River. In the field of engineering back in the golden days, building something like this arch out of mud brick was regarded as a noteworthy achievement. This magnificent arch is worth visiting and reminds of Baghdad under the rule of different rulers throughout the century, such as the Byzantine Empire, the Romans, the Parthians, and Sassanians. [Wait! Sassanians? XD Does that ring a bell? I think Mushrooms must’ve ruled Iraq at some point!]

7# Babylon, the historical city and the legendary Hanging Gardens of Babylon are located at the south of Baghdad, only an hour away. The history of Babylon dates back to 2300 BC

8# Visiting the ancient city of Ur in Sumeria will leave you in awe because it is among the most impressive Iraqi archaeological sites. The earliest buildings in the city date back to 4000 BC

9# It is not considered rude in Iraq to eat food quickly or without utensils. In fact, it is a sign to the host or hostess that the food is delicious. Iraqis are also extremely offended if the family pet comes near the table during the meal.

10# If someone admires an Iraqi’s possession, such as a vase, the Iraqi will usually insist that the person takes it. Therefore, it is proper etiquette to avoid lavishly praising another person’s possessions.

11# Iraq first took part in the Olympic Games in 1948 and has only won one medal, a bronze in weightlifting in the 1960 Rome Games. Iraq has never competed in the Winter Games. [Let’s be honest, Arabia isn’t really the sporty type]

12# According to scientists, about 112.5 billion barrels of proven, or confirmed, crude oil are beneath the ground in Iraq. An additional 200 billion are thought to be in the ground. Although Iraq has the world’s second largest oil reserves, after Saudi Arabia, international sanctions during the 1990s and the wars have left Iraq in poverty.

13# Occasionally, Iraq experiences massive locust swarms. For some reason that no one completely understands, locusts sometimes swarm to about 40-80 million insects and travel up to 80 miles a day!

14# The Iraqi desert is home to the dangerous saw-scale viper. Many scientists consider it the most dangerous snake in the world.

15# A natural gas vent in Iraq known as The Eternal Fire has been burning continuously for over 4,000 years, and is mentioned by Herodotus, Plutarch, and in the Old Testament’s Book of Daniel. [Something to do with Christianity I assume?]

16# The town of Tikrit in Iraq erected a monument of the shoe thrown at Geroge W Bush. XDD The video is hilarious!

17# From earliest times Iraq was known as Mesopotamia—the land between the rivers—for it embraces a large part of the alluvial plains of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

18# During the Iran-Iraq War from 1980-1988, a million people died and the war bankrupted Iraq

19# Traditionally, marriages in Iraq are arranged, though more and more Iraqis are choosing their own spouses, especially in larger cities.

20# In general, both adults and children keep to themselves and are not loud and boisterous, especially in public. Men commonly hold hands or kiss when greeting each other, but this is not the case for men and women. Respect is given to the elderly and women, especially those with children.

21# The Anniversary of the Revolution is 17 July and the most important secular holiday.

22# Dance has played an important role in Iraq culture for thousands of years. One dancing style in Iraq, the hacha’a, is similar to belly dancing, but there is more neck and hand motion and less hip movement. A woman must have long hair because part of the dance involves swinging her hair to the music… [It’s unique!]

23# The traditional music of Iraq is the maqam, which is based on Arabic poetry and is very heart wrenching and slow. Maqam musical scales are said to have been influenced by the courts of ancient Arabic kings and by the Persians (ancient Iranians).

24# Iraq’s national dish is Masgouf (impaled fish) and its national cookie is Kleicha (meaning circle or wheel), both of which can be traced back to antiquity.

25# Researchers claim that most Irish and Britons can trace their roots to Iraq and Syria

26# Traditionally in Iraq, more than half of all brides and grooms marry their first or second cousin.

27# In Iraq, as it is in many predominantly Muslim countries, it is offensive to use one’s left hand while eating

28# Iraq once had one of the highest quality schools and colleges in the Arab world

29# Football is the most popular sport in Iraq. Iraqis also enjoy basketball, boxing, weight lifting, horseback riding, and horse races

30# For 5,000 years Iraqis have been keeping bees. Honey is an important source of food and income for many Iraq families

Thanks for reading, I hope you have enjoyed today’s lesson! Iraq happens to be one of the touchy countries in Arabia, so I’ve tried to avoid trouble, but if there’s any facts that you dislike, please comment below and I’ll remove it. Have a Great Night! :D Cya guys tomorrow when we’ll be looking at… Jordan, I think?

Iraq: [

تحية الى العراق ;)

Lesson 65

https://archive.ph/JBbxY

Hey guys! Having a great weekend? I hope so because today we’re going to have a long trip to a ,without doubt, fantastic country in the Africa-Asia region, we’re visiting Jordan! :D Enjoy:

  • Jordan is an Arab kingdom in Western Asia, on the East Bank of the Jordan River, with a population of over 9 million people.

  • Unlike other Arab countries, Jordan does not have its own oil.

  • Jordan is one of only two Arab nations [Egypt] to have made peace with Israel.

  • In Jordan, it’s considered polite to refuse a meal three times before accepting it.

  • The famous British military officer, diplomat, writer and archeologist Thomas Edward Lawrence, better known as Lawrence of Arabia, advised the leaders of the Arab Revolt during World War I.

  • Amman is the capital and most populous city of Jordan as well as the country’s economic, political and cultural centre.

  • Arabic is the official language, but English is widely spoken amidst the middle and upper classes.

  • Jordan’s official name is the “Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan”

  • Jordan’s currency is the Jordanian Dinar (JOD).

  • Jordan’s national flower is the Black Iris. It only grows in Wadi Rum and only in spring.

  • Jordan has a combination of Mediterranean and arid desert climates, with Mediterranean climates prevailing in the north and west of the country, while the majority of the country is desert.

  • Jordan is home of the ancient city of Petra, one of the New 7 Wonders of The World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

  • The final scenes from the movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade were filmed at Petra. Other movies shot in the Wadi Rum desert are The Martian, Red Planet, and Lawrence of Arabia.

  • The lowest point of dry land in the world is the shore of the Dead Sea in Jordan at 1,378ft (420m) beneath sea level.

  • In Jordan, it’s considered rude and unclean to eat or drink with your left hand.[like every other Arabic/Islamic country]

  • The capital of Jordan, Amman, was once named Philadelphia after Ptolemy Philadelphus (283-246 BC) who rebuilt the city during his reign.

  • Jordan is home to many biblical sites such as the Jordan River where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, the sinful cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, and Mount Nebo where Moses died. [in Christianity]

  • Jordan’s capital houses a 6,000-seat, 2nd-century Roman theatre that is now a famous landmark and dates back to the Roman period when Jordan was known as Philadelphia.

  • Jordan would be landlocked if not for The Dead Sea. It provides the country with 26 kilometres of coastline.

  • When you’re having coffee as a guest in Jordan, you need to shake your cup from side to side to let the host know when you’ve had enough. Otherwise, they’ll just keep refilling it.

  • Mansaf is the national dish in Jordan. This distinctive option for a meal is made of lamb cooked in a sauce with fermented dried yogurt and served with rice or bulgur in a large platter.

  • The national flag of Jordan consists of three horizontal bands of black (for the Abbassid Caliphate), white (for the Umayyad Caliphate) and green (for the Fatimid Caliphate), together with a red triangle representing the Arab Revolt of 1916. The triangle holds a 7-pointed white star, which stands for the seven verses the Qur’an starts with.

  • The adults in Jordan believe overpraising a child will bring bad luck so this gesture from a parent to a kid is often avoided.

  • The longest river in Jordan is the Jordan River that runs 251 kilometers.

  • The dominant religion in Jordan is Sunni Islam. There’s also a Christian minority.

  • Traces of human activity in Jordan have been found dating back all the way to the Palaeolithic period (500,000 BC to 17,000 BC).

  • Jordan is known as an extremely friendly country, where you’ll hear Ahlan wa sahlan! or “Welcome!” quite often.

  • The most common tree in Jordan is the olive tree.

  • Petra is the home of over 800 carved tombs.

  • The city of Jerash is one of the largest and best-preserved sites of Roman architecture in the world.

  • The water of the Dead Sea is known to make you float. That’s because it’s 9.6 times as salty as the ocean.

  • The Palestinian territory of the West Bank was once part of Jordan. Following the Arab-Israeli conflict in 1948-49, the country annexed the West Bank – but lost it to Israel in the 1967 war.

  • Jordan’s most famous national park is the Wadi Rum where you can spend the night under the stars.

  • Aqaba is the only port city in Jordan.

  • The capital Amman was built across seven hills (yup, just like Rome!), known as “jabals”[“Jibaal” in plural! Arabic for mountains]. Over time, it’s grown to now cover 19 of these jabals [jibaal].

  • Jordan is part of the Fertile Crescent, one of the world regions were agriculture likely originated during the Neolithic period (8,500 – 4,500 BCE)

That’s it for tonight! I hope you enjoyed today’s post and learnt some new facts on Jordan! I did, and if you’d like to see a little more on Jordan, here’s a video you might enjoy:

[

Cya guys! Stay safe ;)

Lesson 66

https://archive.ph/l3a90

Hey everyone! Today we’re going to stay at the gulf but we’re going to visit a super-cool, super-rich, yet tiny Arab country that you may have heard of called Kuwait! Get topped up on your Kuwait facts with today’s 33 random facts:

1# Kuwait comprises of nine islands which are mainly oil rich desserts. It is officially known as the “State of Kuwait.” Kuwait City is the capital of Kuwait that is situated on Kuwait Bay.

2# One of the hottest countries in the world especially between June to August. Rainfall averages 2 days in the year. Kuwait has several sandstorms every year.

3# Kuwait has the second-most free economy in the Middle East. It is the fourth-richest country in the world in terms of per capita income.

4# Kuwait has 3 towers. The smallest tower is used for projecting lights onto the other two towers. The second tower is used as a water reservoir. And lastly, the largest has a revolving restaurant and revolving view deck giving a scenic view of Kuwait City and bordering cities.

5# The United Sates is their largest supplier of goods and services. U.S and Kuwait enjoy strong economic ties.

6# The first name is the personal name while the second name is the father’s personal name. [so, in simple words, your surname is your father’s name]

7# The temperature in Kuwait during summer time (June-September) can easily reach 50 degrees Celsius, making it almost impossible for human beings to survive in the outdoors for the most part of summer days and nights.

8# Kuwaiti dinar which is the official currency of Kuwait means Fortress built near water.

9# The national bird of Kuwait is the falcon. It is found everywhere and also seen on the currencies and stamps.

10# Kuwaitis spend much of their free time socializing with family members and friends.

11# If a man must give a gift to a woman, he should say that it is from his wife, mother, sister, or some other female relative.

12# Meals are generally served family-style. Guests are served first. Then the oldest, continuing in some rough approximation of age order until the youngest is served.

13# Business cards are given to everyone you meet.

14# Liberation Tower was built as the tallest structure in the world at 1220 feet.

15# Kuwaiti men wear Dishdasha which is usually white in hot summer months. While in winter Dishdashas are usually made from wool and are in dark colours.

16# In order to dress properly, all Kuwaiti men and women must shop. A world-renowned shopping mall was opened in 2007 which is called as The Avenues.

17# The only real surviving traditional Kuwaiti handicraft weaving is called Sadu, which is generally created in the colours of red and black.

18# Oil was discovered in Kuwait in the 1930s, and proved to have 20% of the world’s known oil resources [I don’t see why oil is on the list of interesting facts but ok? I’ll add it anyways]

19# Kuwait gained independence from Great Britain on June 19, 1961.

20# In February 2006, the annual camel races held using Remote-controlled robot jockeys which is designed to make the races more humane

21# In 2007, The Avenues was officially opened boasting the largest Ikea in the Middle East, as well as over 150 internationally known brand-name shops.

22# Planned and constructed in early 1990s, The Liberation Tower was built as the tallest structure in Kuwait which had a revolving restaurant and observation platform, the whole Tower has been closed to the public for quite some time. The Liberation Tower is the one of the tallest towers in the world, at 1220 feet (to the pinnacle).

23# In June 1961, Kuwait was under the protection of Great Britain, it was never a colony. When Kuwait joined the UN, they were the 111th country to join. It is a good thing they joined, since the UN aided Kuwait when they were invaded by Iraq in 1990.

24# Full political rights were granted to women in Kuwait, in 2005

25# In September 7, 1961, Kuwait adopted its flag.

26# In November 24, 1961 the flag was hoisted officially for the first time. There are three colours on the flag. The green stripe serves as the symbol of the fertility of Arab nations and the black symbolizes the defeat of enemies. The red symbolizes the blood of the defeated enemy whereas the white denotes honour and purity

27# Kuwait is the first gulf country to have established a constitution and parliament

28# There are 141 males for every 100 females

29# There are no railways in Kuwait… Wait, WHAT?! :o [well I guess it is a tiny country…]

30# In April 2006, women voted for the first time in Kuwait [mind you, a bit late… But late is better than never I guess]

31# Despite having been in war, Kuwait has a high standard of living [yup! It’s part of the rich Arabs clan with UAE and Saudi Arabia and Qatar, of course!]

32# Kuwait university [opened in 1966] is the country’s only university [Lol, there’s no problem applying for uni I guess, they all get accepted to their “chosen” one XD … After thinking, it’s probably hard to even get into uni!]

33# Kuwait appears on the world’s top ten “fattest” countries… [Lol that’s rude! XD Forgive them if you’re Kuwaiti! They’re just jealous of your riches! ;p] …They give preference to a rich diet and do not involve in exercising much… [They really haven’t tried Arabic food that’s why they can say this :p Who’s top on the list I wonder?]

Anyways! That’s today’s facts on Kuwait! Of course, there’s much more to Kuwait than these measly websites know, but I tried to pick out the best ones I had the time for. Any facts you know about Kuwait, please share it with us! Thanks! :D I hope you’ve enjoyed today’s post and I hope you’re enjoying your day cus…

Tomorrow’s Monday. [Sorry if I just ruined your evening hehe]

More on Kuwait? Watch this great episode on Kuwait: [ Enjoy ;)

Oh yeah, and I’ve finally reached my first 100-day streak! Ahh ;p

Lesson 67

https://archive.ph/DtHhr

Marhaban everyone! Today we’re going to take a step into the beautiful land of Lebanon. If you haven’t heard of it before or tried Lebanese food, you’re totally missing out! ;p Here are 39 facts for you, on Lebanon:

1# Beirut, Lebanon is the 10th most popular shopping destination in the world.

2# Lebanon is one of the most populated countries in its archaeological sites in the world.

3# Lebanon is the only Arab and Asian country that has absolutely no desert. 

4# Israel and Lebanon share their seas; they are literally separated by a giant cable. The Israeli and Lebanese parts of the ocean can be seen from an Israeli geologic formation – the Rosh Hanikra. These caves are amazing rock formations in Israeli territory. Train tunnels made years ago for transportation between the countries and now inactive can be seen in the outside of the caves. Lebanon is “just around the corner” of Israel. Rosh Hanilkra, although Israeli territory, shows the ocean divided in two, and the military bases of Israel that prohibit civilian entry, as Lebanon is just steps away.

5# One of the main exports of Lebanon is jewellery. Authentic jewellery is one of the most exported goods from Lebanon to the world, especially other Middle Eastern countries.

6# Lebanon is known to have the highest gold reserve in the Middle East.

7# The temple of Bacchus is the best-preserved ancient temple in the world. It is larger than the Parthenon. The most famous sight in Baalbek is the Temple of Jupiter with six large columns.

8# The Mzaar resort right above the village of Faraya is a large ski resort (top 2465m) with modern facilities and a luxurious Intercontinental hotel. It has 42 slopes and 80 kilometres of ski tracks. It’s about a 40 minutes drive from Beirut. So you could on the perfect day, swim in the morning and ski in the afternoon.

9# While in Lebanon absolutely do not miss the impressive palace of Beit ed-Din, built in the 19th century over a period of 30 years by Emir Bechir II. It is a gorgeous example of the Lebanese architecture in that time. It’s only about 40 km from Beirut so it’s an easy daytrip (best combined with a visit to the village of Deir el-Qamar).

10# The name Deir el-Qamar means “Monastery of the Moon”. It’s a picturesque Maronite village and also an UNESCO World Heritage Site. They might as well have added the whole Lebanon as World Heritage Site at once! 11# The name LEBANON appears 75 times in the Old Testament.

12# The name CEDAR (Lebanon’s tree) appears 75 times too in the Old Testament. King Solomon’s temple was built with Lebanon’s cedars.

13# Lebanon’s Sky Bar voted number1 night club in the world.

14# Beirut was named “World Book Capital” in 2009.

15# The first alphabet was created in Byblos (city in Lebanon).

16# Lebanon is the country that has the most books written about it.

17# The creators of Tom & Jerry are originally Lebanese. (Joseph Barbara & William Hanna)

18# Egypt’s Pharaohs imported Lebanon’s cedars, marble and timber.

19# In springtime, and on the same day, you can ski in the mountains and/or swim in the sea.

20# The creator and the production manager of the iPod is originally Lebanese. (Tony Fadel)

21# The richest man in the world comes from a Lebanese descent. (Carlos Slim, from 2010-2013)

22# The Lebanese Hassan Kamel Al-Sabbah was a technological leader whose inventions in electricity had a great impact on the development of the 20th century technology and he was the first one who was working on creating electricity from sunlight.

23# Byblos (city in Lebanon) is the oldest continuously living city in the world.

24# The country’s name is known to be the oldest in the world and has remained unchanged for over 4000 years.

25# The Phoenicians (Original People of Lebanon) built the 1st boat, and they were the first to sail ever. They also reached America long before Christopher Columbus did.

26# The 1st law school in the world was built in Lebanon, in Downtown Beirut.

27# Qurnat as Sawda’ is a very important place in Lebanon. What is so special about it? It is the highest peak of Lebanon at 3088 meters above sea level. It has cold weather and frequent snowfall. According to medieval religious literature, Noah planted a tree in the summit of Mount Lebanon, Qurnat as Sawda.

28# Traditional pottery-making is still popular in the coastal towns of Lebanon, such as Al-Minaa in the north, and Sidon in the south.

29# When you are visiting someone at home, they usually offer you coffee, chocolate, candy (bonbons, in French)… beware, people tend to insist that you take at least one piece, so it is the custom that they offer it 3 times for fear that you should refuse out of shyness… so, you do not really have to take any if you do not want to; they will not be offended (as long as you accept at least one or two things they have offered you during your visit…)

30# The town of Jezzine, located in the south of Lebanon, is known for its cutlery. The cutlery is made of gold, silver and other precious metals. Many have handles made of bone or ivory. Some have the shape of a firebird.

31# Grass weaving is yet another ancient tradition that exists in Lebanon. People use palm leaves, agarwood (oud) and other materials to make furniture, hats, mats and baskets. Places famous for such objects are Aaakkar and Aamchit.

32# Lebanese wedding can last for up to three consecutive days. The most impressive is the day of Zaffeh. Nowadays this term means wedding celebration in general. The wedding starts with two parties – one in groom’s home and one in bride’s home. With the arrival of groom to bride’s home the third party starts.

33# Carlos Ghosn, Elie Saab, Carlos Slim Hel, Shakira, Salma Hayek, Gabriel Yared, Charles Elachi, Zuhair Murad, Billy Zane, Nicolas George Hayek, Tony Shalhoub etc. are all Lebanese or originally Lebanese people

34# In its halcyon days, prior to the civil war, Lebanon was known as the ‘Switzerland of the East’.

35# “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country”. Most people associate this quote to a speech made by US President John Kennedy in 1961. In fact, it came from one of Gibran Khalil Gibran’s books. (Lebanese writer and artist)

36# Lebanon has 5 UNESCO world heritage sites.The ancient city of Baalbek is inarguably Lebanon’s greatest Roman treasure.

37# The Lebanese national dishes are the kibbe; a meat pie made from finely minced lamb and burghul (cracked wheat), and the tabbouleh, a salad made from parsley, tomatoes, and burghul.

38# The Striped Hyena is the national animal of Lebanon.

39# Lebanon is the most religiously diverse country in the Middle East.

Yup! 39 random facts to add to your knowledge on Lebanon or in Arabic [Lubnaan]. I hope you have enjoyed this post! Cya guys! [sorry if I don’t reply because I’m kinda busy, tomorrow I’ll be free! Can’t wait! :D Until then, Byeee!!]

Lesson 68

https://archive.ph/i3FVy

Hey everyone! Tonight, we’re going to take a quick visit to a country in North Africa called Libya. Unfortunately, it seems that these kind of countries get totally rejected by the internet, so it was difficult to find good facts, but here’s what I’ve got for you:

1# Libya stretches along the northeast coast of Africa between Tunisia and Algeria on the west and Egypt on the east; to the south are the Sudan, Chad, and Niger.

2# It is one-sixth larger than Alaska. Much of the country lies within the Sahara. Along the Mediterranean coast and farther inland is arable plateau land.

3# Leptis Magna– Excavated in the 1920’s this World Heritage site is a magnificently preserved Roman city dating back to the 10 Century BC. You can clearly make out public monuments, a harbour, market-place, storehouses, shops and residential districts. The ruins cover a very large area and if you enjoy archaeology you’ll probably want to spend at least half a day here (bring water!).

4# Another important UNESCO site in the Acaucus Mountains features rock art dating back to 12,000 BC. The paintings and carvings at this site depict giraffes, ostriches, elephants, camels, as well as humans and horses.

5# Libya is home to some of the most pristine and impressive Roman ruins on earth. The Sahara desert is also spectacular, with incredible dunes, oases towns, and magical lakes.

6# Cyrene– Originally founded by the Greeks in 630 BC, Cyrene later became an important Roman city and now a wonderful archaeological site for visitors to enjoy. Ancient Greek temples and statues are very well preserved and offer a unique glimpse into ancient Greece in Africa.

7# Ghadames– a real Saharan jewel of an ancient city. White-washed walls and covered streets keep things nice and cool as you explore the rooftops and alleys in this architecturally, fascinating town. Most of the residents have left the old town, but return during the hot summer months to their original homes. Make sure to get a guide, unless you enjoy getting lost. A festival in September is worth planning a trip around.

8# Tripoli – a modern capital city, Tripoli is the gateway to explore Libya and the arrival point for most visitors. It has a very busy port and is the headquarters for most international businesses operating out of Libya. The old medina and the excellent Jamahiriya Museum are highlights for visitors.

9# Benghazi–Libya’s second city and more “laid back” than Tripoli. Lots of decent shops, bazaars and cafe’s make it a pleasant place to spend a few days and stroll around. The beaches are good nearby and the city is architecturally pleasing as well.

10# Gharyanand Nalut – If you are interested in examples of traditional Berber homes (similar to those in Southern Tunisia), then both Nalut and Gharyan are good places to visit. Nalut offers traditional Berber Ksar with lots of Ghurfas (granaries) and interesting nooks and crannies to explore, all built on an escarpment with great views. Gharyan offers a good example of Troglodyte dwellings, basically stone caves, carved out of the mountains, now uninhabited.

11# Libyans are non-confrontational, and saving face is important. They may avoid disagreeing with you or saying “no” to save you from losing face.

12# Libya has undertaken one of the world’s biggest ever water projects, called ‘Great Manmade River Project. It is designed to carry vast quantities of sub-Saharan water to the coastal regions for irrigation, industry and drinking. On completion it is expected to carry five to six million cubic meters of water every day. A total length of 3,380 kilometers of four-meter diameter pipe will finally be installed, and the entire length will be wrapped in reinforcing wire. If laid out in a line, this reinforcing wire would circle the Earth two hundred and thirty times.

13# More than ninety five percent of Libya is desert. This desert is called the Sahara, which not surprisingly is an Arabic word, meaning ‘desert’. Saying “Sahara Desert” is really tautology as it actually means “desert desert [in fact, it is pronounced “sahraa’” but ok]

14# The Sahara is the world’s largest desert, and is about the size of the USA. It forms a major part of the landscape of eleven countries. The Sahara is not all sand however. There are large areas of gravel, clay and rock, and several mountain ranges.

15# An important Biblical character came from a Libyan city, and his name is Simon of Cyrene. Cyrene occupies a prominent position high on an escarpment overlooking the Mediterranean Sea and the coastal plain. It is close to the modern city of Derna.

16# If any Libyan wanted to start a farm, they were given a house, farm land, and livestock and seeds all free of charge.

17# A bursary was given to mothers with new born babies. When a Libyan woman gave birth, she was given 5000 US dollars for herself and the child

18# Electricity was free in Libya meaning absolutely no electric bills! [highlight the “was” they don’t even have electricity now XD]

19# Libya was the only country in the world to have a bank owned by the state meaning they were able to give loans to citizens at zero percent interest by law and they had no external debt.

20# The solid-green colour flag was used by Libya from 1969 till the time Gaddafi was overthrown in 2011. It was the only national flag in the world which had one single colour.

21# Libya had only one King in its entire history. Idris was king of the country from 1951- 1969 as well as the head of the Senussi Muslim order. In 1969, his regime was defeated by Gaddafi.

22# The first inhabitants of Libya were Berber tribes [Amazighs]. The seafaring Phoenicians established trading relations with the Berbers and other peoples in the area and exported goods such as olive oil, ivory, animals, and wine to the rest of the Mediterranean and Africa.

23# Horse races are popular in Libya, and they are a part of some traditional celebrations. Car racing is also very popular. At one time, Tripoli was a stop on the Grand Prix tour.

24# Libyan folk art and architecture use the traditional Islamic art motifs such as floral or vegetative designs and calligraphy expressed in various media such as leather, metal, stone, and embroidery.

25# Libyan cuisine is a mixture of Mediterranean, African, Berber and a bit of Italian influences. Common ingredients are olives, dates, milk, lamb, chicken, and grains such as couscous. Tea is often served after meals and sometimes roasted almonds or peanuts are mixed into the tea. Alcohol consumption is illegal.

26# Libyans are warm and enthusiastic people. They shake hands upon greeting and maintain the handshake as long as the verbal greetings last.

27# Meals are prepared by the women of the household and served to guests by the young men of the household. Food is served on long low tables, tall enough to allow guests to sit cross legged and to belly up to the edge.

28# Within Africa, Libya has the longest Mediterranean coastline, and is home to many beaches.

29# Cyrene was an ancient Greek and Roman city near present-day Shahhat, Libya. It was the oldest and most important of the five Greek cities in the region. It gave eastern Libya the classical name Cyrenaica that it has retained to modern times. Since 1982, it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

30# One of the most spectacular sights in Libya is Tripoli’s massive Red Castle, set on an island adjacent to the shore. Built in the 16th century on the site of a Roman military encampment, it was the seat of power for Ottoman conquerors.

31# Ghadamès, known as ‘the pearl of the desert’, stands in an oasis. It is one of the oldest pre-Saharan cities and an outstanding example of a traditional settlement.

32# The Economy of Libya depends primarily upon revenues from the petroleum sector, which contributes practically all export earnings and 80% of GDP. These oil revenues and a small population have given Libya the highest nominal per capita GDP in Africa.

33# Libya is a large country with a relatively small population, and the population is concentrated very narrowly along the coast.

34# The hottest temperature ever recorded on Earth’s surface was 58°C (136°F) in El Aziziya, Libya recorded in 1922.

35# One of the most popular Libyan dishes is Bazin, an unleavened bread prepared with barley, water and salt. [Bread? What is wrong with these people? It’s not bread guys!]

36# A famous character in Arab history is the Libyan, Omar al Mukhtar. He fought for his country when Italy were invading Libya. A movie was re-acted on this brave old man, giving him the title “Lion of the Desert”. He was even honoured by his opponents B) [oh and btw obviously the movie wasn’t created by Libyans – that’d be an achievement XD Libyans paid for Americans to make this movie. It was even dubbed into Hindi and Tamil]

That was quite a lot actually ;p Anyways! I hope you’ve enjoyed this lesson, tomorrow might be a more interesting one… Going further south I think! Have a great day Cya guys tomorrow! :D

If you want to watch something, I recommend this video on Libya [and I also recommend this series]:

[

Lesson 69

https://archive.ph/5DyAa

Hola! Today we’re going to jump to the letter M meaning we should be flying South to a country called Mauritania. If you didn’t even know it existed, I suggest you read on ;) :

  1. The country gets its name from the ancient Berber kingdom of Mauretania, which existed from the 3rd century B.C. to the 7th century in the far north of modern-day Morocco and Algeria.

  2. About 90% of Mauritania’s land is within the Sahara, while the population is concentrated in the south, where precipitation is slightly higher.

  3. The capital and biggest city in Nouakchott, which is located on the Atlantic coast and is home to around one third of the country’s 4.3 million people.

  4. About 20% of Mauritanian live on less than $1.25 per day.

  5. Mauritania suffers from several human rights issues, including slavery, as at least 4% of the population are enslaves.

  6. Mauritania was the last country to legally abolish slavery. It only became punishable by law in 2007.

  7. Mauritania’s terrain is generally a flat plain with occasional ridges and cliff-like outcroppings.

  8. Kediet ej Jill at 915 meters, or 3,002 feet, above sea level is the highest peak in Mauritania. The mountain and its surrounding area are rich in iron deposits. Due to the magnetic field, compasses can’t function on the mountain.

  9. Mauritania has 754 kilometres, or 468 miles, of coastline. It’s coast is essentially one long sandy beach that’s almost devoid of any vegetation, but supports a massive amount of birds.

  10. The Banc d’Arguin National Park is one of Mauritania’s top attractions. Fringing the Atlantic coast, the park comprises sand-dunes, coastal swamps, small islands and shallow coastal waters. It’s a major breeding site for migratory birds.

  11. The Ancient Ksour of Ouadane, Chinguetti, Tichitt and Oualata are founded in the 11th and 12th centuries to serve the caravans crossing the Sahara. These trading and religious centres became focal points of Islamic culture.

  12. Port de Peche is a colourful and buzzing boardwalk and fishing port on the west side of Nouakchott. Hundreds of local men drag pounds of nets from their sailing vessels onto the short to the fish mongers, who skilfully fillet the catches to sell at the nearby market.

  13. Mosque Saudique is a mosque in Nouakchott. The mosque was built from Saudi funding.

  14. The Richat Structure, which is also known as the Eye of the Sahara and Guelb er Richat, is a prominent circular feature in the Sahara near Ouadane. From space, this natural wonder forms a distinct and unmistakable bulls-eye that once served as a geographical landmark for early astronauts as they passed over the Sahara.

  15. In the Middle Ages, Mauritania was the cradle of the powerful Almoravid dynasty, which spread Islam across North Africa and later controlled Islamic Spain.

  16. French colonization, at the beginning of the 20th century, brought legal prohibitions against slavery and an end to inter-clan warfare.

  17. The majority of the population depends on agriculture and livestock for a livelihood, even though most of the nomads and many subsistence farmers were forced into the cities by recurrent droughts in the 1970s and 1980s.

17 The nation’s coastal waters are among the richest fishing areas in the world, but over exploitation by foreigners threatens this key source of revenue.

  1. Oil was discovered in Mauritania in 2001 in the offshore Chinguetti field. Although the discovery was significant for the Mauritanian economy, its overall influence is difficult to predict.

  2. The country’s first deepwater port opened near Nouakchott in 1986. In recent years, drought and economic mismanagement have resulted in a build-up of foreign debt.

  3. The predominant spoken languages in Mauritania are Arabic, Pulaar, Soninke, Wolof and French, which is widely used in the media and among the educated classes. Modern Standard Arabic is the official language.

  4. Mauritania is nearly 100% Muslim, with most inhabitants adhering to the Sunni denomination.

  5. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Nouakchott, founded in 1965, serves the 4,500 Catholics in Mauritania, which are mostly foreign residents from West Africa and Europe.

  6. The obesity rate among Mauritanian women is high, perhaps in part due to the traditional standards of beauty in which obese women are considered beautiful while thin women are considered sickly. [A fat person must’ve introduced this idea tbh]

  7. Since 1999, all teaching in the first year of primary school is in Modern Standard Arabic. French is introduced in the second year and is used to teach all scientific courses.

  8. Mauritania gained its independence from France on Nov. 28, 1960, and was admitted to the United Nations in 1961. (Having once been a French colony, Mauritannia’s education system has been heavily influenced by the francophone system which is still prevalent today even after its independence.)

  9. The capital of Mauritania is Nouakchott, which means “place of the winds.”

  10. If you look at Mauritania from space, you can see a clear bull’s-eye-like image called “The Eye of Africa.” It looks quite cool.

  11. Mauritania’s Bay of Nouadhibou, hides one of the biggest ships cemeteries in the world. There are more than 300 wrecks from all nations beached permanently on its shores.

  12. One of the longest trains in the world is found in Mauritania. It measures almost three kilometres long.

  13. The people of the fishing village of Nouamghar use dolphins to drive shoals of migrating fish towards the shore and their nets.

  14. Mauritania’s tallest mountain, the 915-meter-tall Mount Ijill, is made almost entirely of magnetite, a form of iron ore.

  15. In 2007, Messaoud Ould Boulkheir, a former slave, was elected as president of Mauritania’s National Assembly.

  16. In Mauritania, it is said that the size of a woman indicates the amount of space she occupies in her husband’s heart [ XD if I ever get overweight in my life, I’ll go to Mauritania]

  17. Many houses have colourful traditional pillows and mats, teapots, trays, and carpets. Mattresses are placed along the walls with traditional pillows. Houses are crowded because of strong family bonds. An urban house normally is open to relatives and friends.

  18. In this extremely traditional society, belonging to a group is very important, and the larger the group, the better. People use clan names rather than family names. [Sassy clan ;p]

That’s it for today everyone! If you enjoyed this post, you might like to check out this video:

[ Enjoy!

Have a great evening everyone! See you guys tomorrow when we’ll be looking at a well-known country in Arabia. Can you guess? :D

Lesson 70

https://archive.ph/TRyob

Hi everyone! Today we’re going to look at one of the most visited countries in not only Africa, but the whole of Arabia! I was lucky enough to find so many facts, that it was hard to narrow them down, but here’s what I’ve got for you:

  • The first think any Moroccan will start telling you about when you ask him where he is from is the food! Yes, the food! Believe it or not, it is hard to describe Moroccan food in words alone. From Pastilas to Tajines and Couscous, the meals will charm you! They are not only well cooked but also immensely detailed. Especially the spices! Ask any Moroccan and he'd tell you how knowing how to work with spices is the most important part about Moroccan cuisine. Perhaps the most essential thing you should know about Moroccan spices is that they have a spice of their own called 'Ras El Hanout'. This spice is made out of 27 different other spices!

  • The capital city of Morocco is Rabat.

  • The largest city in Morocco is Casablanca.

  • The Moroccans are the inhabitants and the citizens of Morocco, most of them have Berber or Arab origin. There are 38M Moroccan in the World about 33M are living in Morocco and about 2.5M are living in France and Spain.

  • Moroccan people follow the principles of Islam, Moroccan families has a strong foundation in unity, whatever it is the nuclear family as well as the extended one. Children's are expected to take care of their parents when the grow old, therefore there are very few elderly homes compared to western culture.

  • Toubkal is the tallest mountain of Morocco and the highest peak in North Africa.

  • The Kairouan mosque in Fez is the oldest university in the world built by Fatima al-Fihri.

  • The most well-known Moroccan food is couscous, a dish typically eaten on the Islamic holy day.

  • The most popular sport in Morocco is Football.

  • The official languages of Morocco are Berber and Arabic.

  • Morocco celebrates their national holiday of Throne Day on July 30 each year.

  • Green tea with mint and sweetened with sugar is their popular beverage.

  • Morocco has the fifth largest economy throughout Africa.

  • Tarfaya Wind Farm in Morocco is Africa’s largest capacity wind farms.

  • Morocco is the largest energy importer in the MENA region.

  • Tourism is one of the country’s most important economic industries.

  • The second largest film set in the world located in Morocco.

  • Marrakech is a popular tourist attraction in Morocco.

  • Agadir is one of the major urban centres of Morocco and is located on the Atlantic Ocean.

  • Agadir was mostly destroyed by an earthquake in 1960.

  • Souk El Had is an Agadir’s largest regional market with around 6,000 small shops.

  • The national animal of Morocco are Barbary Lions [now extinct].

  • Morocco exports more than 90,000 tons of dates each year all around the World.

  • A Moroccan widow wears white for 40 days after her husband’s death to show she is mourning.

  • Morocco is the largest producer and exporter of sardines in the world.

  • The Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca is the world’s seventh largest mosque.

  • The Moroccan national costume is called Djellaba but it’s not what youngsters wear nowadays.

  • Tangier is the oldest city in Morocco.

  • Moroccan Architecture has been greatly influenced by numerous architectural styles such as Arabic architecture for fountains, Geometric Design and Islamic calligraphy, Persians techniques for tiling concept (Zellige), Al-Andaluz Architecture (Southern Spanish) for Andalusian gardens and arches. More recent buildings are influenced by French architecture due to France occupying Morocco in 1912.

  • Moroccan Music is one of the fundamental aspects of Morocco's culture, There are many different musical styles to be found in Morocco, each one with its own history. You can find Amazigh music from the Rif, Andalusian music from Rabat, Fes and Oujda, Chaabi from the Atlas, Ahidous from the Souss as well as Gnawa plus many more

  • Moroccan people are probably ones of the nicest people you'll ever meet! They will welcome you into their homes without even the need to make sure of who you really are, they feel the need to feed you until you cannot eat anymore, tell you all the stories you might need or not need to know about their land and guide you through your entire journey.

  • The oldest hominoid in the world was found in Morocco near Safi.

  • Morocco was the first nation to sign a treaty with the United States in 1786.

  • Morocco was a French protectorate in the early 1900’s but it was never a full colony.

  • Moroccans speak a dialect of Arabic known as Darija. It is a mixture of Arabic, Berber, and French. You can learn a few words and phrases here.

  • Morocco gained independence in 1956 and celebrates on November 18th.

  • Morocco is one of the oldest recognized countries in Africa, with its first declaration of sovereignty dating back to the year 788.

  • Visitors from the UK, EU, Australia, Canada, USA, and Japan are allowed to stay in Morocco for up to three months without a Visa. [Favouritism huh? I see! XD]

  • On a clear day, you can easily see Morocco from Spain. [Wait…WHAT?! That’s so cool]

  • Morocco is part of the African Union, the Arab League and the United Nations.

  • Casablanca is a Spanish derivation of the Portuguese term Casa Blanca, or white house. The Portuguese invaded and rebuilt the city in the 15th Century.

  • Morocco hosts Africa's highest ski resort. Yes, really. It is in Oukaïmeden, in the Atlas Mountains, at between 8,500 and 10,500 feet above sea level.

That’s it for Morocco tonight! I really enjoyed making this post, and I hope you’ve enjoyed it too! :D Any interesting/important facts on Morocco I’ve neglected, please share it with us below! Thanks! ;)

And a video to add the final touches to your Journey to Morocco:

[ Have a great night cya guys tomorrow! ;D

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