Rabat, population 650 000 hab. (2010 estimate), is the capital and second largest city of the Kingdom of Morocco. It is also the capital of the Rabat-Salé-Zemmour-Zaer region.
The city is located on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the river Bou Regreg. On the facing shore of the river lies Salé, Rabat's bedroom community. Together the two cities with Temara account for a population of 1.8 million. Silting problems have diminished the city's role as a port; however, Rabat and Salé still maintain relatively important textile, food processing and construction industries; some are from sweatshop labor by major multinational corporations (see Salé).
In addition, tourism and the presence of all foreign embassies in Morocco serve to make Rabat the second most im
portant city in the country after the larger and economically more significant Casablanca. It is accessible by train through the ONCF system and by plane through the nearby Rabat-Salé Airport.
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