Oriental
الجهة الشرقية | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 34°41′N 1°54′W / 34.683°N 1.900°W | |
Country | Morocco |
Capital | Oujda |
Government | |
• Wali (Governor) | Abdelfettah El Houmam |
Area | |
• Total | 82,900 km2 (32,000 sq mi) |
Population (2004) | |
• Total | 1,918,094 |
Time zone | UTC+0 ( WET) |
• Summer ( DST) | UTC+1 ( WEST) |
Oriental ( Arabic: الجهة الشرقية) is one of the sixteen former regions of Morocco. It covers an area of 82,900 km2 and has a population of 1,918,094 (2004 census). The capital and largest city is Oujda, and the second largest city is Nador.
It is situated in the north-east of the country, with a northern coastline on the Mediterranean Sea. The regions of Taza-Al Hoceima-Taounate, Fès-Boulemane and Meknès-Tafilalet lie to its west, with the Algerian provinces of Tlemcen and Naâma to its east and Béchar to the south. Melilla, a Spanish autonomous city, also borders the region.
The region is made up into the following prefectures and provinces: