Non-Self-Governing Territory Western Sahara Founded 1938 Population 196,331 (2010) Number of airports 1 | Settled 1934 Time zone UTC Province Laâyoune Province Team JS Massira | |
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Region Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra Weather 35°C, Wind S at 37 km/h, 9% Humidity Neighborhoods Al Wahda Bloc D, Al Amal, Quartier Al Wifaq, Diridak, Al Mostakbal | ||
Western sahara walking in laayoune el aaiun
Laayoune (Maghrebi Arabic: لعيون, Laʕyūn ; Spanish: El Aaiún; French: Laâyoune; Berber: ⵍⵄⵢⵓⵏ, Leɛyun; Literary Arabic: العيون al-ʿuyūn, literally "The Springs") is the largest city of the disputed territory of Western Sahara. The modern city is thought to have been founded by the Spanish colonizer Antonio de Oro in 1938. In 1940, Spain designated it as the capital of the Spanish Sahara. Laâyoune (El-Aaiún) is the capital of the Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra region administered by Morocco under the supervision of the UN peace-keeping mission in Western Sahara (MINURSO).
Contents
- Western sahara walking in laayoune el aaiun
- Map of El AaiC3BAn
- Etymology
- Climate
- Demographics
- Economy and status
- Sport
- Transport
- Education
- Twin towns and sister cities
- References
Map of El-Aai%C3%BAn
The town is divided in two by the dry river of Saguia el Hamra. On the south side is the old lower town, constructed by Spanish colonists. A cathedral from that era is still active; its priests serve this city and Dakhla further south.
Etymology
Laâyoune or'El Aaiún are respectively the French and Spanish transliterations of the Maghrebi Arabic name Layoun which means "the water springs".
Climate
Laâyoune (El-Aaiún) has a mild desert climate, moderated by the Canary Current with an average annual temperature of 20 °C (68 °F).
Demographics
The city has a population of 196,331 and is the largest city in Western Sahara. It is a growing economic hub.
Economy and status
The city is a hub for fishing and for phosphate mining in the region. In 2010 that country was negotiating a new fishing agreement with Europe over offshore fishing.
Sport
The football club of the city is Jeunesse Massira. The club plays in the Moroccan Premier League, the highest football league in the country. Jeunesse Massira uses Stade Sheikh Mohamed Laghdaf in training and games.
Transport
Laâyoune (El-Aaiún) is served by Hassan I Airport.
Education
There is a Spanish international school, Colegio Español La Paz, owned by the Spanish government. It occupies a 17,000-square-metre (180,000 sq ft) property. In 2015 the parents' association, Asociación de Madres, Padres y Tutores de Alumnos del Colegio Español La Paz (AMPA), asked for the establishment of secondary education so their children would not have to go to Las Palmas or Morocco to continue their education.