Agadir

Agadir, city in western Morocco, seaport on the Atlantic Ocean. It is situated within a mining region; cobalt, lead, manganese, and zinc are shipped out of the city's excellent natural harbour. The chief industries of Agadir are fishing, fish-canning, and the manufacture of light metal products. However, tourism is the main economic activity, and the city is Morocco's most popular tourist destination. An international airport is located near the city, catering mainly for charter flights. Agadir was founded as a Portuguese settlement around 1500 and came under Moroccan rule in 1541. In 1911, at the height of the controversy caused by Franco-German rivalry in Morocco, Germany sent the warship Panther to Agadir. The incident, which nearly precipitated a general European war, led to the establishment of a French protectorate in Morocco in 1912. In 1960 Agadir was devastated by two earthquakes that killed about 15,000 people. Since then the city has been completely rebuilt, and there are numerous hotels. Population (1990 estimate) 779,000.