Oriental () is one of the sixteen former regions of Morocco. It covers an area of 82,900 km2 and has a population of 1,918,094 (2004 census). The capital and largest city is Oujda, and the second largest city is Nador.
Geography It is situated in the north-east of the country, with a northern coastline on the Mediterranean Sea. The regions of Taza-Al Hoceima-Taounate, Fès-Boulemane and Meknès-Tafilalet lie to its west, with the Algerian provinces of Tlemcen and Naâma to its east and Béchar to the south. Melilla, a Spanish autonomous city, also borders the region.
The region is made up of the following prefectures and provinces:
Berkane Province Eddriwesh Province Figuig Province Jerada Province Nador Province Prefecture of Oujda-Angad Taourirt Province
Municipalities by population (2004)
Oujda, Oujda-Angad: 398,131 Nador, Nador Province: 124,915 Taourirt, Taourirt Province: 79,664 Berkane, Berkane Province: 79,570 Jerada, Jerada Province: 43,870 Al Aaroui, Nador Province: 36,021 El Aioun Sidi Mellouk, Taourirt Province: 34,767 Beni Ensar, Nador Province: 31,800 Zaio, Nador Province: 29,851 Bouarfa, Figuig Province: 24,527 Sidi Slimane Echcharraa, Berkane Province: 22,889 Zeghanghane, Nador Province: 20,134 Ahfir, Berkane Province: 19,477 Ain Bni Mathar, Jerada Province: 13,526 Figuig, Figuig Province: 12,516 Aklim, Berkane Province: 8,979 Bni Drar, Oujda-Angad: 8,919 Debdou, Taourirt Province: 4,575 Touissit, Jerada Province: 3,429 Saidia, Berkane Province: 3,338 Ain Erreggada, Berkane Province: 2,975 Naima, Oujda-Angad: 1,151
References
External links Oriental web portal in French Oujda entry in lexicorient