Tarfaya

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Tarfaya
Tarfaya is located in Morocco
Tarfaya
Location in Morocco
Coordinates: 27°54′N 12°51′W / 27.9°N 12.85°W / 27.9; -12.85
Country  Morocco
Region Guelmim-Es Semara
Population (2004)
 - Total 5,615
Time zone WET (UTC+0)
 - Summer (DST) WEST (UTC+1)

Tarfaya (طرفاية) is a city (5615 (2004)) on the southwestern coast of Morocco. It is a port town, which shares its name with the general lower region of Morocco (the Tarfaya Strip).

It was known as Villa Bens during Spanish colonization. In the 1920s, Aéropostale used a nearby airstrip. It has a monument to French aviator and author Antoine de Saint Exupéry.

On April 30, 2008 the Panama registered passenger ship Assalama was wrecked after leaving Tarfaya in poor weather.[1] The vessel was about five miles offshore when high seas washed over the deck and it began to list and be carried back to shore. Passengers and crew were successfully evacuated by lifeboat before the ship beached on a sandbank just outside the port entrance. Approximately 80,000 litres of fuel oil were spilled, severely damaging the local fishing industry.[1]

Tarfaya during the Spanish protectorate

[edit] Climate

Weather data for Tarfaya
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 19
(66)
19
(66)
20
(68)
21
(70)
21
(70)
22
(72)
22
(72)
23
(73)
23
(73)
23
(73)
22
(72)
20
(68)
21
(70)
Daily mean °C (°F) 16
(61)
16
(61)
17
(63)
18
(64)
18
(64)
19
(66)
20
(68)
20
(68)
20
(68)
20
(68)
19
(66)
16
(61)
18
(64)
Average low °C (°F) 13
(55)
13
(55)
14
(57)
15
(59)
16
(61)
17
(63)
18
(64)
18
(64)
18
(64)
17
(63)
16
(61)
13
(55)
16
(61)
Precipitation cm (inches) 0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
1
(0.4)
0
(0)
4
(1.6)
Source: Weatherbase[2]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b "Maritime Industry News - Assalama (Panama)". Lloyd's List Daily Commercial News (Informa Australia Pty Ltd): pp. 23. 2008-05-29. 
  2. ^ "Weatherbase: Historical Weather for Tarfaya". http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weatherall.php3?s=196006&refer=&units=metric. 

[edit] External links

Coordinates: 27°54′N 12°51′W / 27.9°N 12.85°W / 27.9; -12.85