Rabat
Rabat, population 787,745 (
1994), is the capital of the Kingdom of
Morocco. The city is located on the
Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Bou Regreg estuary. Unfortunately, silting problems have diminished the city's role as a port, but it maintains an important
textile industry.
There have been settlements on the site since ancient times. It became a Muslim fortress circa 700. Prior to Moroccan independence in 1956, Rabat was capital of the French protectorate of Morocco.
Muhammad V University is located in the city.