Nador

Nador Ennaḍur ⴻⵏⵏⴰⴹⵓⵔ الناظور
Nador city centre
Nador Location in Morocco
Coordinates: 35°10′N 2°56′W / 35.167°N 2.933°W / 35.167; -2.933
Country	Morocco
Region	Oriental
Population (2004)
- City	150,000
- Metro	approx. 350,000
Time zone	WET (UTC+0)
- Summer (DST)	WEST (UTC+1)

Nador (Berber: ⴻⵏⵏⴰⴹⵓⵔ Ennaḍur, Arabic: الناظور) is a city located in the northeastern Rif region of Morocco. The city is a Mediterranean port on the Bḥar Ameẓẓyan lagoon (Mar Chica in Spanish), and it is the major trading center in the region for fish, fruit, and livestock. It is linked to the Spanish-administered city of Melilla, 11 kilometers (6.8 mi) to the north, by a semi-motorway.

Nador is populated by a Riff-Berber speaking population of more than 180,000 inhabitants. The city became the administrative capital of an independent province within Morocco in 1956.

Overview

The economy of Nador city and the province of Nador includes fishery, agriculture, some light and heavy industry. The economy has grown dramatically in recent years, particularly due to the manufacturing sector with the building of a metal processing complex supplied with iron ore from Rif and anthracite from Jerada and the textiles, chemicals and electronics industries.^[1] In the summer months a lot of Moroccan nationals originating from the Nador area and living in Europe visit the city. They mainly stay with relatives or own or rent an apartment, rather than staying in one of Nador's hotels. These visits give an important impulse to the region's economy.

Trade is also an important activity in the city. The location of the city near the sea and close to the Spanish exclave Melilla are catalysts for international trade.

In the past Nador was infamous as a centre of smuggling, as were many Mediterranean seaports. Currently only some illegal import of goods via Melilla remains of the activities in the past. Many used consumer goods from Europe find their way to North Africa via Melilla and Nador. All kinds of goods find their way via this route, from used clothes and shoes up to such large electric devices as washing-machines.^[2][3]

Nador transmitter

Main article: Nador transmitter

Near Nador is the transmission site for long- and short-wave Medi 1 Radio which broadcasts to all Maghreb countries. The aerial masts of Medi 1 Radio for long-wave are approximately 380 metres high and are among the tallest man-made structures in Africa.

Nador Quarters

Main Nador city quarters and neighbourhoods include:

• El Khattabi
• El Kindy
• Laarasi
• Anafag / Lmatar / New Nador
• Laari Shikh
• Ammas n Temdint / Centro (city downtown)
• Ait Mimoun (Ait Mimoun Market)
• Isebbanen
• Tireqqaâ
• Ait Lahsen
• Downtown Nador: a relatively developed area in comparison with the rest of the city. This lies in the centre of the city and was partially developed by the Spanish colonials.

Transport

Sign regarding building railway and tunnels for it through Nador

see also Nador Railway stations, Nador International Airport and Nador Port

A railway linking Nador to Taourirt was opened on 2 July 2009 by king Mohammed VI of Morocco.^[4][5] as part of ONCF's rail projects. Previously, there was a connecting bus link from Taourirt, also operated by railway company ONCF^[6]

In addition, several direct bus links operate between Nador and major Moroccan cities. Ferries link Nador Port and Melilla with Spain; Nador International Airport offers direct flights to Moroccan and European destinations, effectively serving as Melilla second airport for Air Europa..

Several standard roads give access to the Fes-Oujda expressway (under construction) and to the Spanish exclave of Melilla.

Tourism

The former Rif hotel

During the summer months Nador is visited by a large number of Moroccan nationals originating from the province or city of Nador. The (local) government also wants to attract foreign tourists, and for this reason they try to give the city a better look: cafés have been told to use metal or wooden chairs outside (and not plastic), houses have to be painted in one colour throughout the city and the main boulevard along the sea has been redeveloped. Until early 2008 the city end of the boulevard was formed by the Rif Hotel, but in the spring of 2008 the existing hotel was demolished and the road alongside the boulevard extended. This new road by-passes the city centre and runs directly towards the main roundabout at the entrance of Nador via the Road to Taoima. The remaining grounds where the hotel and its facilities were located is being redeveloped into a new hotel complex. Just outside Nador a new ecological resort is being developed Abdouna Trifa including holiday-homes, a golf-course and a marina. This $ 1,15 billion investment is due to open in 2011.^[7] And on the location of the former Rif Hotel in the city centre a brand new tourist development is being built^[8][9]

External links and references

1. ^ Morocco. Dorling Kindersley Eyewitness Travel Guides. 2006. 
2. ^ Info about Nador and Smuggling visited on 6 May 2008
3. ^ LookLex page on Nador visited on 6 May 2008
4. ^ Le train Nador-Taourirt, enfin sur les rails, FesPub.net.
5. ^ King inaugurates Nador stations
6. ^ Timetables for the bus link can be found on the ONCF website.
7. ^ SkyScraper City on Abdouna Trifa, visited 27 August 2010
8. ^ SkyScraper city on the new Rif hotel complex, visited 27 August 2010
9. ^ Artist impression of the NEW Rif hotel, retrieved 26 August 2010

Coordinates: 35°10′0″N 02°56′0″W / 35.166667°N 2.933333°W / 35.166667; -2.933333