Souss-Massa
{{short description|Region of Morocco}}
{{POV|date=September 2021|talk=Talk:Dakhla-Oued_Ed-Dahab#NPOV_violation}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Souss-Massa
| other_name =
| native_name = {{native name|ar|سوس ماسة}}
| settlement_type = Region
| image_skyline =
| imagesize =
| image_caption =
| image_seal =
| image_flag =
| image_map = Souss-Massa region locator map.svg
| map_caption = Location in Morocco
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|Morocco}}
| seat_type = Capital
| seat = Agadir
| government_type = Governor–regional council
| leader_title1 = Wali
| leader_name1 = Said Amzazi
| leader_title2 = Council president
| leader_name2 = Ibrahim Hafidi
| established_title = Created
| established_date = September 2015
| area_total_km2 = 51642
| area_total_sq_mi = 19939
| area_footnotes = {{cite web |last=Law |first=Gwillim |url=http://www.statoids.com/uma.html |title=Regions of Morocco |website=Statoids |access-date=11 December 2015}}
| population_as_of = 1 September 2014
| population_footnotes = {{cite web |url=http://rgph2014.hcp.ma/file/166326/ |title=POPULATION LÉGALE DES RÉGIONS, PROVINCES, PRÉFECTURES, MUNICIPALITÉS, ARRONDISSEMENTS ET COMMUNES DU ROYAUME D'APRÈS LES RÉSULTATS DU RGPH 2014 |language=ar, fr |publisher=High Commission for Planning |date=8 April 2015 |access-date=29 September 2017}}
| population_total = 2676847
| population_density_km2 = auto
| timezone = CET
| utc_offset = +1
| coordinates = {{Coord|30.08|N|8.48|W|region:MA-09_type:adm1st|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m =
| iso_code = MA-09
| website = [http://www.soussmassa.ma/ www.soussmassa.ma]
| footnotes =
}}
Souss-Massa ({{langx|ar|سوس ماسة|sūs māssa}}) is one of the twelve regions of Morocco. It covers an area of 51,642 km² and had a population of 2,676,847 as of the 2014 Moroccan census. The capital of the region is Agadir.{{cite web |url=http://www.pncl.gov.ma/fr/EspaceJuridique/DocLib/d%C3%A9cret%20fixant%20le%20nombre%20des%20r%C3%A9gions.pdf |title=Décret fixant le nom des régions |date=20 February 2015 |access-date=11 December 2015 |work=Portail National des Collectivités Territoriales |language=fr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518083233/http://www.pncl.gov.ma/fr/EspaceJuridique/DocLib/d%C3%A9cret%20fixant%20le%20nombre%20des%20r%C3%A9gions.pdf |archive-date=18 May 2015 }}
Geography
Souss-Massa borders the regions of Marrakesh-Safi to the north, Drâa-Tafilalet to the northeast and Guelmim-Oued Noun to the southwest. To the southeast is Algeria's Tindouf Province. The region faces the Atlantic Ocean on its western side: much of the coast is protected by Souss-Massa National Park. The interior of the region is dominated by the Anti-Atlas mountain range, while the Sous River runs across the northern part of the region, in the valley between the Anti-Atlas and the High Atlas. The capital Agadir is located at the mouth of the Sous. Toubkal National Park extends into the northeastern corner of the region.
= Climate =
Three factors influence the semi-arid Mediterranean climate of the region: the topography, the oceanic coastline, and the Sahara Desert. In the northern part, dominated by the Atlas Mountains, the climate shifts from humid to semi-arid as one moves towards the plain. This plain, which stretches from the base of the Atlas and includes the basins of the Souss and Massa rivers, experiences an arid climate despite its broad exposure to the Atlantic Ocean. Meanwhile, the southern and southeastern sections of the region, which lie on the northern edge of the Sahara, have a desert climate.
In the Souss plain, average precipitation over the last decade has been 2503 mm, while the high plateaus receive between 350 and 400 mm. The southern part of the region, adjacent to the Sahara, is much drier, but since 2005, the desert has been experiencing a greening trend due to significant winter rains, especially in 2009-2010.
History
Souss-Massa was formed in September 2015 by merging Tata Province, formerly part of Guelmim-Es Semara region, with five provinces of the former Souss-Massa-Drâa region.
Government
File:Région de Souss-Massa.svg
{{ill|Brahim Hafidi|fr}} of the RNI was elected as the regional council's first president on 14 September 2015.{{cite press release |date=14 September 2015 |title=Ministère de l'Intérieur : l'élection des présidents des Conseils des régions s'est déroulée dans de bonnes conditions et dans un climat de transparence |trans-title=Ministry of the Interior: the regional council presidential elections took place under good conditions and in an air of transparency |url=http://www.maroc.ma/fr/actualites/ministre-de-linterieur-lelection-des-presidents-des-conseils-des-regions-sest-deroulee |language=fr |publisher=Maghreb Arabe Press |access-date=11 December 2015}} He had previously headed the Souss-Massa-Drâa regional council.{{cite news |last=Aourik |first=Abdallah |date=7 April 2010 |title=Interview avec monsieur Brahim Hafidi, Président de la Région Souss Massa Draa |url=http://www.agadirnet.com/news-actualites/details__5807.html |language=fr |publisher=Agadir Net |access-date=11 December 2015}} Zineb El Adaoui was appointed governor (wali) of the region on 13 October 2015.{{cite news |date=14 October 2015 |title=SM le Roi a procédé à la nomination les Walis des régions |trans-title=His majesty the King appointed the Walis of the regions |url=http://lavieeco.com/news/actualite-maroc/sm-le-roi-a-procede-a-la-nomination-les-walis-des-regions-35593.html |language=fr |newspaper=La Vie Éco |access-date=13 December 2015}} He was succeeded by Ahmed Hajji in 2017.{{cite news |last=Lourhzal |first=Mohcine |date=29 June 2017 |title=Qui sont les nouveaux Walis et Gouverneurs? |url=https://www.lereporter.ma/a-la-une/maroc-qui-sont-les-nouveaux-walis-et-gouverneurs/ |language=fr |newspaper=Le Reporter |access-date=9 October 2017}} The current wali of the region since 2023 is Said Amzazi.{{Cite web |title=Biographie de Saaïd Amzazi, Wali de la région de Souss-Massa, gouverneur de la préfecture d’Agadir Ida Outanane {{!}} MapNews |url=https://www.mapnews.ma/fr/actualites/politique/biographie-de-saa%C3%AFd-amzazi-wali-de-la-r%C3%A9gion-de-souss-massa-gouverneur-de-la |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=www.mapnews.ma}}
=Subdivisions=
Economy
File:Agricultural terraces in Anti-Atlas mountains near Tafraoute, Morocco.jpg
Agriculture is a major economic activity in the Sous and Massa river basins located in the northwestern part of the region.{{cite web |url=http://www.regionsmd.com/agro.html |title=L'Agriculture |publisher=Souss-Massa Region |access-date=11 December 2015 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151118232616/http://www.regionsmd.com/agro.html |archive-date=18 November 2015 }} Industries related to the processing of agricultural and seafood products are also concentrated in the same area.{{cite web |url=http://www.regionsmd.com/industrie.html |title=UNE RICHESSE HUMAINE AU SERVICE DES RESSOURCES DE LA TERRE |publisher=Souss-Massa Region |access-date=11 December 2015 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160205094616/http://regionsmd.com/industrie.html |archive-date=5 February 2016 }} Agadir is an important fishing{{cite web |url=http://www.regionsmd.com/peche.html |title=UNE INFRASTRUCTURE MODERNE & UN SAVOIR FAIRE CONFIRMÉ |publisher=Souss-Massa Region |access-date=11 December 2015 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160205094608/http://regionsmd.com/peche.html |archive-date=5 February 2016 }} and tourist port.{{cite web |url=http://www.regionsmd.com/tourisme.html |title=L'ÉVASION GAGNANTE |publisher=Souss-Massa Region |access-date=11 December 2015 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160205094621/http://regionsmd.com/tourisme.html |archive-date=5 February 2016 }} Tiznit is known for its traditional silverwork.{{cite web |url=http://www.regionsmd.com/artisanat.html |title=L'ARTISANAT |publisher=Souss-Massa Region |access-date=11 December 2015 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151119072941/http://www.regionsmd.com/artisanat.html |archive-date=19 November 2015 }}
Infrastructure
File:Road R104 in Anti-Atlas mountains, Tiznit Province, Morocco.jpg
The A7 motorway connects Agadir with Marrakesh and Casablanca. The major north–south road through the region is the N1, while the N10 runs east–west in the Sous River valley, connecting Agadir to Taroudant and Ouarzazate. Agadir is a major port city in Morocco and also has an international airport.