Agadir

Agadir is a major city in Morocco, located on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean, near the foot of the Atlas Mountains, just north of the point where the Sous River flows into the ocean. A majority of its inhabitants speak Tashelhit, a Berber language, as their first language. Thousands of years ago, Agadir was a small fishing village.  Even today, fishing is still important to the city. Its seafood, incidentally, is excellent.

While Agadir may have began as a small fishing village, in the early sixteenth century an influx of Portuguese and German settlers began.  In 1911, the Agadir Crisis occurred, which resulted in France establishing a protectorate over Morocco. Morocco gained its independence from France in 1956.

The most traumatic event in recent Agadir history is the earthquake of 1960, in which 15,000 people died.  The city was totally destroyed and had to be rebuilt. The city was rebuilt a few miles south of the original city.  The new city is now strikingly different from your typical Moroccan city. It is a vibrant city that is, some argue, more modern. It has a vibrant nightlife, beautiful beaches, and much to attract tourist.