Tangier (/tænˈdʒɪər/; Arabic: طنجة Ṭanjah; Berber: ⵟⴰⵏⵊⴰ, Ṭanja; archaic Berber name: Tingi or Tinigi; Latin: Tingis; French: Tanger; Spanish: Tánger; Portuguese: Tânger; sometimes Tangiers in British English) is a major city in northern Morocco with a population of about 850,000 (2012 estimates). It is located on the North African coast at the western entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar where the Mediterranean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean off Cape Spartel. It is the capital of the Tangier-Tetouan Region and of the Tangier-Asilah prefecture of Morocco.
The history of Tangier is very rich due to the historical presence of many civilizations and cultures starting from before the 5th century BC. Between the period of being a strategic Berber town and then a Phoenician trading center to the independence era around the 1950s, Tangier was a refuge for many cultures. In 1923, Tangier was considered as having international status by foreign colonial powers, and became a destination for many European and American diplomats, spies, writers and businessmen.
The city is currently undergoing rapid development and modernization. Projects include new tourism projects along the bay, a modern business district called Tangier City Center, a new airport terminal and a new football stadium. Tangier's economy is also set to benefit greatly from the new Tanger-Med port.
However, the city suffers from widespread poverty, real-estate corruption, and high rates of crime. This results in sharp contrasts between rich and poor crowded neighborhoods. The latter fueled the 20 February Movement popular uprisings that shook Morocco strongly in 2011.
Tangier's sport team I.R.T. (or Ittihad Riadi de Tanger) is a prominent football club with a large following base. Tangier will be one of the host cities for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations football tournament, which shall be played at the new Ibn Batouta Stadium and in other cities across Morocco.
Wikipedia.
The history of Tangier is very rich due to the historical presence of many civilizations and cultures starting from before the 5th century BC. Between the period of being a strategic Berber town and then a Phoenician trading center to the independence era around the 1950s, Tangier was a refuge for many cultures. In 1923, Tangier was considered as having international status by foreign colonial powers, and became a destination for many European and American diplomats, spies, writers and businessmen.
The city is currently undergoing rapid development and modernization. Projects include new tourism projects along the bay, a modern business district called Tangier City Center, a new airport terminal and a new football stadium. Tangier's economy is also set to benefit greatly from the new Tanger-Med port.
However, the city suffers from widespread poverty, real-estate corruption, and high rates of crime. This results in sharp contrasts between rich and poor crowded neighborhoods. The latter fueled the 20 February Movement popular uprisings that shook Morocco strongly in 2011.
Tangier's sport team I.R.T. (or Ittihad Riadi de Tanger) is a prominent football club with a large following base. Tangier will be one of the host cities for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations football tournament, which shall be played at the new Ibn Batouta Stadium and in other cities across Morocco.
Wikipedia.