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| − | {{Infobox Settlement
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| − | |official_name = Casablanca
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| − | |other_name = Dar-el-Baida
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| − | |native_name = Anfa / الدار البيضاء
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| − | |nickname =
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| − | |motto =
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| − | |image_skyline = Centre casablanca.jpg
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| − | |imagesize =
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| − | |image_caption = Casablanca city center
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| − | |image_flag =
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| − | |flag_size =
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| − | |image_seal =
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| − | |image_shield =
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| − | |image_blank_emblem =
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| − | |blank_emblem_size =
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| − | |image_map =
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| − | |mapsize = 200px
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| − | |map_caption = location of Casablanca in [[Morocco]]
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| − | |pushpin_map = Morocco<!-- the name of a location map as per http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Location_map —>
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| − | |pushpin_label_position = <!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none —>
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| − | |subdivision_type = [[Country]]
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| − | |subdivision_name = [[Morocco]]
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| − | |subdivision_type1 = [[administrative region]]
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| − | |subdivision_name1 = [[Greater Casablanca]]
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| − | |subdivision_type2 =
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| − | |subdivision_name2 =
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| − | |subdivision_type3 =
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| − | |subdivision_name3 =
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| − | |subdivision_type4 =
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| − | |subdivision_name4 =
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| − | |government_type = [[Monarchy]]
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| − | |leader_title =ruler
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| − | |leader_name = [[Mohammed VI of Morocco|Mohammed VI]]
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| − | |leader_title1 =Major
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| − | |leader_name1 =[[Mohammed Sajid]]
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| − | |leader_title2 =
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| − | |leader_name2 =
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| − | |leader_title3 =
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| − | |leader_name3 =
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| − | |leader_title4 =
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| − | |leader_name4 =
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| − | |established_title = First settled
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| − | |established_date = 7th century
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| − | |established_title2 = reconstructed
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| − | |established_date2 = 1756
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| − | |established_title3 = <!-- Incorporated (city) —>
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| − | |established_date3 =
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| − | |area_magnitude =
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| − | |unit_pref = <!--Enter: Imperial, if Imperial (metric) is desired—>
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| − | |area_footnotes =
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| − | |area_total_km2 = 324
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| − | |area_land_km2 =
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| − | |area_water_km2 =
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| − | |area_total_sq_mi =
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| − | |area_urban_km2 =
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| − | |area_urban_sq_mi =
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| − | |area_metro_km2 =
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| − | |population_as_of =
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| − | |population_footnotes =
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| − | |population_note =
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| − | |settlement_type = <!--For Town or Village (Leave blank for the default City) —>
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| − | |population_total = 3.1 million (2005 census estimate)
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| − | |population_density_km2 = 9132
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| − | |population_density_sq_mi =
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| − | |population_metro =
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| − | |population_density_metro_km2 =
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| − | |population_density_metro_sq_mi =
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| − | |population_urban = 3.85 million ([[Grand Casablanca]])
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| − | |population_density_urban_km2 =2383
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| − | |population_density_urban_mi2 =
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| − | |timezone =
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| − | |utc_offset =
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| − | |timezone_DST =
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| − | |utc_offset_DST =
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| − | |latd=33 |latm=32 |lats= |latNS=N
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| − | |longd=7 |longm=35 |longs= |longEW=W
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| − | |elevation_footnotes = <!--for references: use <ref> </ref> tags—>
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| − | |elevation_m =
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| − | |elevation_ft =
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| − | |postal_code_type =Postal code
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| − | |postal_code =20000-20200
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| − | |website = http://www.casablanca.ma/
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| − | |footnotes =
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| − | }}
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| − | '''Casablanca''' ([[Spanish language|Spanish]] for "whitehouse"; [[Berber languages|Amazigh]]: '''Anfa'''; [[Arabic language|Standard Arabic]]: '''الدار البيضاء'''; [[Moroccan Arabic]]: '''dar beïda''') is a [[city]] in western [[Morocco]], located on the [[Atlantic Ocean]]. With a [[population]] of 3.1 million within the city proper and 3.85 million in the "Greater Casablanca" metropolitan area, Casablanca is Morocco's largest city as well as its chief [[port]]. It's also the largest city in the [[Maghreb]] and the sixth largest city on the [[Africa]]n continent. It is often and justifiably referred to as the economic capital, although Morocco's political [[capital]] is [[Rabat]]. The Port of Casablanca is its nation's chief [[port]], the largest of the [[Maghreb]] and [[North Africa]], and is one of the largest artificial ports in the world.
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| − | Its location on the coast of [[Morocco]] has rendered it an important port-city since its inception. During the [[Second World War]], the city served as a desperate whistle stop on the underground railway to [[Lisbon]] for those seeking escape from the [[Nazism]] which was spreading across [[Europe]].
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| − | Casablanca is home to the grand [[Hassan II Mosque]], the second largest [[mosque]] in the world (after the [[Masjid Al-Haram|Masjid al-Haram]] in [[Mecca]]). It is situated on a [[promontory]] looking out to the [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]], which can be seen through a gigantic glass floor with room for 25,000 worshipers. A further 80,000 can be accommodated in the mosque's courtyard.
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| − | The city was made famous in the 1942 film, "Casablanca", which starred [[Humphrey Bogart]] and [[Ingrid Bergman]]. A story of the conflict between love and virtue, the film has grown in popularity as the years have passed. The movie's characters, quotes, and music have become iconic. It now consistently ranks near the top of lists of the greatest films of all time, and has made ''Casablanca'' a household word.
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| − | == History ==
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| − | ===Pre-French Protectorate era===
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| − | The area which is today Casablanca was settled by [[Berber]]s by at least the 7th century.<ref name=JVL> ''Jewish Virtual Library''. [http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/vjw/Casablanca.html Casablanca] Retrieved June 9, 2008. </ref> A small independent kingdom arose in the area then named [[Anfa]] in response to [[Arab]] [[Muslim]] rule, and continued until it was conquered by the [[Almoravid]]s in 1068.
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| − | During the 14th century, while under the [[Merinid]]s, Anfa rose in importance as a port. In the early 15th century, the town became an independent state once again, and emerged as a safe harbor for [[pirate]]s and privateers, leading to it being targeted by the [[Portugal|Portuguese]], who destroyed the town in 1468.
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| − | The Portuguese used the ruins of Anfa to build a military fortress in 1515. The town that grew up around it was called "Casabranca," meaning "White House" in Portuguese. Between 1580 and 1640, the city was under [[Spain|Spanish]] rule, to be later transferred back to Portugal, who eventually abandoned the area completely in 1755 following near complete destruction by an [[earthquake]].
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| − | The town was finally reconstructed by [[sultan]] [[Mohammed ben Abdallah]] (1756-1790), the grandson of [[Moulay Ismail]] and ally of [[George Washington]]. The town was called '''Dar el Beida''' (white house) in [[Arabic language|Arabic]] and '''Casa Blanca''' in [[Spanish language|Spanish]].
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| − | In the 19th century, the area's population grew as Casablanca became a major supplier of [[wool]] to the booming [[textile]] industry in [[United Kingdom|Britain]] and shipping traffic increased (the British, in return, began importing Morocco's now famous national drink, [[gunpowder tea]]). By the 1860s, there were around 5,000 residents, with the population increasing to approximately 10,000 by the late 1880s. <ref name=Pen> C. R. Pennell. 2003. ''Morocco: from empire to independence.'' Oxford: Oneworld. </ref> Casablanca remained a modestly-sized port, with a population reaching around 12,000 within a few years of the French conquest and arrival of [[French colonial empires|French colonialists]] in the town, at first administrators within a sovereign sultanate, in 1906. By 1921, this was to rise to 110,000, <ref name=Pen/> largely through the development of ''[[shanty town|bidonvilles]]''.
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| − | ===French rule===
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| − | [[image:Casablanca-Conference.jpg|thumb|right|200px|U.S. President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] and British Prime Minister [[Winston Churchill]] surrounded by military leaders at the Casablanca Conference, January 1943.]]
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| − | In June 1907, the French attempted to build a [[light railway]] near the port, passing through a graveyard. Residents attacked the French workers, and riots ensued. French troops were landed in order to restore order, which was achieved only after severe damage to the town. The French then took control of Casablanca. This effectively began the process of colonialization, although French control of Casablanca was not formalized until 1910. During the 1940s and 1950s, Casablanca was a major center of anti-French rioting.
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| − | ===The Casablanca Conference===
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| − | Casablanca was an important strategic port during [[World War II]] and the site of a large [[United States|American]] air base, which was the staging area for all American aircraft for the [[European Theater of Operations]].
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| − | The city hosted the important [[Casablanca Conference (1943)|Casablanca Conference]] - considered by some to be the turning point of the war - in January 1943 in which [[Winston Churchill|Churchill]] and [[Franklin D. Roosevelt|Roosevelt]] met to analyze the progress and discuss further strategy of the war. [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] leader [[Joseph Stalin]] had been invited to attend, but declined. General [[Charles de Gaulle]] had initially refused to come but changed his mind when Churchill threatened to recognize [[Henri Giraud]] as head of the [[Free French Forces]] in his place. Giraud was also present at Casablanca, which reportedly caused notable tension.
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| − | The Conference produced the "Casablanca Declaration," which called for the Allies to seek the unconditional surrender of the Axis Powers. It also called for Allied aid to the Soviet Union in the invasion of [[Sicily]] and [[Italy]], and the recognition of joint leadership of the Free French by de Gaulle and Giraud.
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| − | The Casablanca Conference was followed by the [[Cairo Conference]], the [[Tehran Conference]], the [[Yalta Conference]] and the [[Potsdam Conference]].
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| − | ===Since independence===
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| − | [[Morocco]] gained independence from [[France]] on March 2, 1956. Since that time Casablanca has become the economic and business capital of the nation, while [[Rabat]] is the political capital.
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| − | [[Image:Casablanca1950s.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Boulevard Mohamed el Hansali in 1950s]]
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| − | In March 2000, women's groups organized demonstrations in Casablanca proposing reforms to the legal status of women in the country. Forty thousand women attended, calling for a ban on [[polygamy]] and the introduction of [[Talaq (Nikah)|divorce law]] (divorce being a purely religious procedure at that time). Although the counter-demonstration attracted half a million participants, the movement for change begun then was influential on [[Mohammed VI of Morocco|King Mohammed VI]], who enacted a new ''Mudawana'', or family law, in early 2004, meeting some of the demands of women's rights activists.
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| − | On May 16, 2003, 33 civilians were killed and more than 100 people were injured when Casablanca was hit by a multiple suicide bomb attack carried out by Moroccans and claimed by some to have been linked to [[al-Qaeda]].
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| − | A string of [[suicide bombing]]s struck the city in early 2007. A suspected militant blew himself up at an internet cafe on March 11, 2007. On April 10, three suicide bombers blew themselves up during a police raid of their safe house. <ref> ''Sky News''. April 12, 2007. [http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-1260317,00.html Terror Cell: 'Police Hold Fifth Man'] Retrieved June 9, 2008.</ref> Two days later, police set up barricades around the city and detained two more men who had escaped the raid. <ref> ''Independent News & Media''. April 12, 2007. [http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=68&art_id=nw20070412144633223C139447 Casablanca on alert after suicide bombings] Retrieved June 9, 2008.</ref> On April 14, two brothers blew themselves up in downtown Casablanca, one near the American Consulate, and one a few blocks away near the American Language Center. Only one person was injured aside from the bombers, but the Consulate was closed for more than a month. <ref> April 15, 2007. [http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=3044022 U.S. Shuts Morocco Consulate After Bomb] </ref>
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| − | ==Economy==
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| − | [[Image:Boulevard de Paris, Casablanca.jpg|thumb|200px|A view on the Boulevard de Paris in central Casablanca]]
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| − | The 1956 Moroccon independence brought several years of economic hardship for Casablanca, but the city soon revived through its focus on industry and commerce.
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| − | The Greater Casablanca region is considered the locomotive of the development of the Moroccan economy. It attracts 32 percent of the country’s production units and 56 percent of [[industrial labor]]. The region uses 30 percent of the national [[electricity]] production. With MAD 93 billion, the region contributes 44 percent of the nation's industrial production. Thirty-three 33 percent of national industrial exportations, MAD 27 billions, which is comparable with US $ 3.6 billion, come from Greater Casablanca. The majority of the nation's banking network is concentrated in the city.
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| − | One of the most important exports is [[phosphate]]. Other industries include [[fishing]] and fish canning, [[sawmill]]ing, furniture making, building materials, [[glass]], [[textile]]s, [[electronics]], [[leather]] work, processed [[food]], [[beer]], spirits, [[soft drink]]s, and [[cigarette]]s.
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| − | ===Port of Casablanca===
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| − | The ''Port of Casablanca'' refers to the collective facilities and [[terminal]]s that conduct [[maritime trade]] functions in the city's harbors, and which handle Casablanca's [[shipping]]. The man-made port is protected from the sea by a breakwater. Not only does it handle the majority of Morocco's foreign trade, it is also a port of call for [[Europe]]an ships. The boulevard leading to the port is lined with tourist shops. One of the largest artificial ports in the world. <ref> Tore Kjeilen. [http://lexicorient.com/e.o/casablan.htm Casablanca] ''Encyclopedia of the Orient''. Retrieved June 9, 2008. </ref>, it is also the largest port within the [[Maghreb]] and [[North Africa]].
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| − | Casablanca's port treats a traffic of more than 21,3 million tons per annum, 38 percent of the national traffic, and carries out a sales turnover of more than 894 Million [[Moroccan Dirham]]s. With an extent of 605 hectares and extending to more than 8 kilometers in length. It can accommodate and treat more than 35 [[ship]]s at once.
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| − | The port is located near [[Hassan II Mosque]].
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| − | ==Cityscape==
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| − | [[Image:Twincenter.jpg|thumb|250px|right|[[Casablanca Twin Center]]]]
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| − | Approximately 12 percent of Morocco's [[population]] lives in the greater Casablanca region, which is also the largest urban area in the [[Maghreb]]. A 2005 census estimate listed the population at 3.85 million, though that figure is disputed by locals, who point to a number between 5 and 6 million, citing recent drought years as a reason for many people moving into the city to find work.
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| − | The area surrounding the Port is lined with tourist shops. Inland from the harbor is the original [[Arab]] town, known as the ''Old Medina''. This area is partially enclosed by the original rampart walls, and is a maze of narrow streets and stone houses. It attracts fewer tourists than the [[Medina quarter|medinas]] of other Moroccan towns, such as [[Fes, Morocco|Fes]] and [[Marrakech]]. However, it has undergone some restoration in recent years. Included in this project have been the western walls of the medina, its ''skala'', or [[bastion]], and its colonial-period clock tower.
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| − | Built in a semicircle just outside these walls is the town built by the French, known as the ''French period New Town''. Designed by the French [[architecture|architect]] [[Henri Prost]], it a model of a new town at that time. The main streets of the New Town radiate south and east from ''Place des Nations Unies'', where the main market of [[Anfa]] had been. The New Town is possibly the most impressive in Morocco. Former admistrative buildings and modern hotels populate the area. Their style is a combination of [[Islamic architecture#Moorish Architecture|Hispano-Mauresque]] and [[Art Deco]] styles.
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| − | === Landmarks ===
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| − | [[Image:Hassan II mosque1 (js).jpg|thumb|275px|left|Hassan II Mosque; "His Throne Was On Water"]]
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| − | Casablanca is home to the [[Hassan II Mosque]], designed by the French architect [[Michel Pinseau]] and built by Bouygues Construction. It is situated on a [[promontory]] looking out to the [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]], which can be seen through a gigantic glass floor with room for 25,000 worshippers. A further 80,000 can be accommodated in the mosque's courtyard. Its [[minaret]] is the world's tallest at 210 meters. It is the second largest [[mosque]] in the world (after the [[Masjid Al-Haram|Masjid al-Haram]] in [[Mecca]]).
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| − | Work on the mosque was started in 1980, and was intended to be completed for the 60th birthday of the former [[King of Morocco|Moroccan king]], [[Hassan II of Morocco|Hassan II]], in 1989. However, the building was not inaugurated until 1993. Authorities spent an estimated $800 million in the construction of the building.
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| − | The ''Parc de la Ligue Arabe'' (formally called ''Lyautey'') is the city's largest [[public park]]. On its edge is situated the [[Cathedrale du Sacré Coeur]], which is no longer in use, but is a splendid example of ''[[Moorish Revival|Mauresque]]'' architecture.
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| − | <center><gallery caption=Hassan II Mosque>
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| − | Image:Morocco Africa Flickr Rosino December 2005 82664690.jpg|Hassan II Mosque
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| − | Image:Hassan II mosque2 (js).jpg|Minaret
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| − | Image:Hassan II mosque3 (js).jpg|Inside the Mosque
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| − | Image:Hassan II mosque4 (js).jpg|Inside the Mosque
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| − | Image:Hassan II mosque5 (js).jpg|Fountain
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| − | Image:Hassan II Mosque in the evening (js).jpg|Hassan II Mosque in the evening
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| − | Image:Morocco Africa Flickr Rosino December 2005 82664692.jpg|Interior of the Mosque
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| − | Image:Morocco Window.jpg|Looking out from the inside
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| − | </gallery></center>
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| − | ==Transport==
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| − | ;Air
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| − | Casablanca's main airport is ''Mohammed V International Airport'', Morocco's busiest airport. Regular domestic flights serve [[Marrakech]], [[Rabat]], [[Agadir]], [[Oujda]], and [[Tangier]], [[Laayoune]] as well as other cities.
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| − | Casablanca is well served by international flights to [[Europe]], especially [[France|French]] and [[Spain|Spanish]] airports, and has regular connections to [[North America]]n, [[Middle East]]ern and [[sub-Saharan Africa]]n destinations. [[New York]], [[Dakar]] and [[Dubai]] are important primary destinations.
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| − | The older, smaller ''Casablanca Anfa'' airport to the west of the city which served certain destinations including [[Sydney]], [[Damascus]], and [[Tunis]] is scheduled closed to civilian traffic in 2006.
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| − | ;Rail
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| − | Casablanca is served by two rail stations run by the national rail service, the [[ONCF]]. The main long haul station is ''Casa-Voyageurs'', from which trains run south to [[Marrakech]] or [[El Jadida]] and north to [[Rabat]], and then on either to [[Tangier]] or [[Meknes]], [[Fes]], Taza and [[Oujda]]. A dedicated airport shuttle service to [[Mohammed V International Airport]] also has its primary in-city stop at this station, for connections on to further destinations.
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| − | The second station, ''Casa-Port'', serves primarily commuter trains running the Casablanca - [[Kenitra]] corridor, with some connecting trains running to Gare de Casa-Voyageurs
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| − | [[Image:Principal Cast in Casablanca Trailer crop.jpg|right|thumb|265px|Principal cast of the movie, left to right: Victor Laszlo ([[Paul Henreid]]), Ilsa Lund ([[Ingrid Bergman]]), Captain Renault ([[Claude Rains]]) and Rick Blaine ([[Humphrey Bogart]]).]]
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| − | == Casablanca in film ==
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| − | Casablanca was the setting of a 1942 film starring [[Humphrey Bogart]] (as Rick) and [[Ingrid Bergman]] as (Ilsa). Set in the [[Vichy France|Vichy]]-controlled city during [[World War II]], its focus was on Rick's conflict between, in the words of one character, [[love]] and [[virtue]]: he must choose between his love for Ilsa and doing the right thing, helping her and her [[Resistance during World War II|Resistance]] leader husband, [[Paul Henreid]] (Victor Laszlo) escape from Casablanca to continue his fight against the [[Nazism|Nazis]].
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| − | The film won three Oscars in 1943, including the [[Academy Award|Academy Award for Best Picture]], and was nominated in five additional categories. The characters, quotes, and [[music]] have become iconic, and the film has grown in popularity as time has gone by. It now consistently ranks near the top of lists of the greatest films of all time, and has made ''Casablanca'' a household word.
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| − | ==Notes==
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| − | <references/>
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| − | == References ==
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| − | * Atkinson, Rick. 2002. ''An army at dawn the war in North Africa, 1942-1943''. New York: Henry Holt & Co. ISBN 9780805062885
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| − | * Cahill, Marie. 1991. ''Casablanca''. Hollywood classics. New York, N.Y.: Smithmark. ISBN 9780831745745
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| − | * Koch, Howard, and Julius J. Epstein. 1973. ''Casablanca; script and legend''. Woodstock, N.Y.: Overlook Press. ISBN 0879510064 and ISBN 9780879510060
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| − | * Lukas, Scott A. 2007.'' The themed space: locating culture, nation, and self''. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books. ISBN 0739121421 (Bahiyyih Maroon, “Leisure Space: Thematic Style and Cultural Exclusion in Casablanca,” pp. 137-151)
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| − | * Porch, Douglas. 1983. ''The conquest of Morocco''. New York: Knopf. ISBN 0394511581 and ISBN 9780394511580
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| − | == External Links ==
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| − | {{Commonscat|Casablanca}}
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| − | * Tore Kjeilen. [http://lexicorient.com/morocco/casablanca.htm Casablanca Time did go by]. ''Lexicorient''. Retrieved October 22, 2007.
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| − | * ''Morocco Travel''. [http://www.moroccotravelandtours.com/casablancamap.htm Tourist map]. Retrieved October 22, 2007.
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| − | * ''Magic Morocco''. [http://www.magicmorocco.com/casablanca_morocco.html Casablanca Morocco]. Retrieved October 22, 2007.
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| − | [[Category:Geography]]
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| − | [[Category:Middle East]]
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| − | [[Category:North Africa]]
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| − | {{credit|Casablanca|217572737|Casablanca_(film)|218123567|Casablanca_Conference|211921706|Port_of_Casablanca|199740616}}
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