March 2nd: Morocco Independence Day

Morocco gained independence from France in 1956. 10 facts about Morocco:

1. The first university in the world was in Morocco. It started in a mosque, the Kairaouine Mosque, which was built in the year 857, and was the largest mosque in the country until the 1990s, when a bigger one was built in Casablanca.
2. You can go skiing in Morocco. Oukaïmeden, a resort in the High Atlas Mountains is the highest ski resort in Africa. The Snow record isn't great, though. It only gets about 7.87 inches (20 cm) of snow a year.
3. Morocco's capital city is Rabat; its largest city is its main port, Casablanca. Casablanca is well know as the setting for the film of the same name, but not a single scene was actually filmed there. The oldest city is Tangier, which has been inhabited since 1600 B.C.
4. Morocco’s national animal is the Barbary lion.
5. Morocco is the largest processor and exporter of sardines in the world. One of its other notable exports through the years has been cannabis, particularly in the Rif region. In fact, the word "reefer" is derived from this region in Morocco.
6. There is a town in Morocco (Chefchaouen) where every building is painted blue.
7. Morocco is the only African country that is not a member of the African Union.
8. Morocco’s highest point is Jebel Toubkal at 13,665 feet (4,165 m); its lowest point is Sebkha Tah at -180 feet (-55 m) below sea level.
9. The composer Camille Saint-Saëns was inspired by Moroccan Issaoua (Sufi) trance music for his work Danse Macabre.
10. The liver, rather than the Heart, is the symbol of love in Moroccan culture.