For the capital of Eritrea, see Asmara. For the city in Russia, see Samara. For the city in Iraq, see Samarra. For the city in Ethiopia, see Semera. For a geographic region in the Middle East, see Samaria.
Smara
Smara (also romanized as Semara, Arabic: السمارة, Hassaniyya: [(ə)s.smaːra] ⓘ; Spanish: Esmara) is a city situated within the Moroccan-occupied portion of Western Sahara. According to the 2014 Moroccan census, it registered a population of 57,035 individuals, a figure that undoubtedly shifts with the sands of time and political currents. [1] The city's connectivity to the wider world, or what passes for it in this region, is facilitated by Smara Airport and a local bus station, offering routes for those brave or desperate enough to traverse the desert.
Place in Western Sahara
Smara
السمارة Esmara
Location in Western Sahara
Coordinates: 26°44′22″N 11°40′13″W / 26.73944°N 11.67028°W / 26.73944; -11.67028 Non-self-governing territory Western Sahara Claimed by Kingdom of Morocco Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic Controlled by Kingdom of Morocco Founded 1869 Area • Total 69.72 km 2 (26.92 sq mi) Population (2014) [1] • Total 57,035 • Density 818.1/km 2 (2,119/sq mi)
History
Smara, the principal urban center within its designated province, first emerged from the vastness of the Saguia el-Hamra in 1869. It was initially conceived, in a rather optimistic turn, as an essential oasis and waypoint for weary travellers navigating the unforgiving expanse. A testament to the enduring human need for both shelter and symbolism, the city's core still harbors the remnants of a stone fortress, the Zawiy Maalainin, which once encompassed a mosque. This structure served as the residence for the Maalainin family from 1830 until 1912, a period of relative stability before the inevitable tides of conflict began to assert themselves.
The city's true ascent to prominence began in 1902 when it was declared a capital and a significant religious center by the revered shaykh Ma al-'Aynayn. At this juncture, the territory was known as Spanish Sahara, a name that neatly encapsulates the colonial ambitions of the era. Ma al-'Aynayn, a figure of considerable spiritual and political influence, meticulously selected Smara's location with the strategic foresight that it might evolve into a pivotal caravan trade hub within the vast and notoriously sparsely populated Sahara desert. The growth and physical expansion of Smara were not solely the efforts of the local Sahrawis; skilled craftsmen dispatched by the Moroccan sultan Hassan I also played a crucial role, indicating a broader regional interest in the burgeoning settlement.
In 1902, the shaykh Ma al-'Aynayn officially relocated his base to Smara, solidifying its status as his holy capital. Beyond its strategic and spiritual significance, the town flourished as a bastion of intellectual endeavor. Ma al-'Aynayn established an extensive and vital Islamic library, transforming Smara into a renowned center for religious learning and scholarship. This period marked a rare convergence of spiritual devotion, political ambition, and intellectual flourishing in the heart of the desert.
However, such centers of learning and influence rarely escape the notice of encroaching powers. In 1904, shaykh Ma al-'Aynayn formally declared himself an imam and, with the increasing pressure of French colonialism pressing into the Sahara, issued a resounding call for holy war, or jihad, against the foreign encroachment. This marked a turning point, transforming Smara from a spiritual haven into a focal point of resistance. The consequences were swift and brutal. During the subsequent military campaign waged against Ma al-'Aynayn, Smara suffered immense devastation. In 1913, the French Army launched a decisive assault, sacking the city almost completely. In a tragic and all-too-common act of cultural vandalism, its invaluable library, a repository of centuries of knowledge, was utterly destroyed. [2] Following this brutal suppression, the battered town was unceremoniously handed over to the Spanish colonial authorities. The cycle of destruction, however, was far from over. In 1934, Smara was once again laid to waste following renewed Sahrawi rebellions against the persistent Spanish occupation, a stark reminder that the spirit of resistance, much like the desert itself, is not easily subdued.
The Vieuchange brothers
The allure of Ma al-'Aynayn's enigmatic Smara captivated the imaginations of the Vieuchange brothers, two early 20th-century French writers and romantics. Their quest for this "forbidden city" became an enduring tale of adventure and tragedy. Michel Vieuchange, driven by a powerful, perhaps foolish, romantic impulse, embarked on a perilous journey through the volatile, rebel-held Sahrawi lands in 1930. To navigate this dangerous territory, he adopted the elaborate disguise of a Berber tribeswoman – a testament to his desperation or sheer audacity. He eventually reached Smara on November 1, 1930, a feat of endurance against immense odds. However, the desert, as it often does, exacted a heavy toll. On his arduous return journey, Michel succumbed to dysentery, a grim and unglamorous end to a romantic expedition. His harrowing experiences, meticulously documented in his journals, provide a visceral account of the journey. [3] This collection, comprising seven notebooks filled with his observations and over 200 photographs capturing the harsh beauty and brutal realities of his travels, was published posthumously in 1932 by his brother Jean. Titled Smara: The Forbidden City, the book resonated deeply with a public hungry for tales of exotic adventure and quickly ascended to bestseller status, immortalizing Michel's ill-fated quest.
After 1975
The geopolitical landscape of Western Sahara underwent a dramatic transformation in 1975. As Spain concluded its colonial withdrawal from the region, Morocco asserted its control over Saguia Elhamra, citing the terms laid out in the Madrid Accords. This diplomatic maneuver set the stage for further conflict. The following year, in 1976, the Moroccan army successfully wrested control of Smara from the Polisario Front, a nationalist liberation movement.
The consequences of these shifts were profound and enduring. A poignant reminder of the ongoing displacement and conflict remains near Tindouf, Algeria, where a significant Sahrawi refugee camp bears the name Smara. This camp is one of four such settlements administered by the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) in Algeria, serving as a temporary, yet often permanent, home for thousands who fled the conflict.
Today, Smara itself remains under the administration of the Moroccan authorities, who refer to the territory as their "Southern Provinces." The city, like much of the Moroccan-controlled areas of Western Sahara, is physically demarcated and protected by a segment of the extensive Moroccan Wall, a vast defensive sand berm that serves as a stark symbol of the enduring territorial dispute and the division it has wrought.
Climate
Smara's climate is, predictably, that of a desert: harsh, arid, and subject to extreme temperature fluctuations. The data below offers a rather dry, but entirely accurate, summary of what one can expect from a place that seems perpetually unimpressed by human comfort.
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record high °C (°F) | 33.0 | 37.3 | 39.5 | 41.6 | 45.6 | 47.5 | 49.0 | 48.9 | 46.8 | 44.6 | 38.7 | 33.3 | 49.0 |
| (91.4) | (99.1) | (103.1) | (106.9) | (114.1) | (117.5) | (120.2) | (120.0) | (116.2) | (112.3) | (101.7) | (91.9) | (120.2) | |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 23.2 | 25.0 | 27.7 | 29.0 | 30.9 | 33.0 | 36.9 | 38.0 | 34.5 | 31.6 | 27.5 | 24.2 | 30.1 |
| (73.8) | (77.0) | (81.9) | (84.2) | (87.6) | (91.4) | (98.4) | (100.4) | (94.1) | (88.9) | (81.5) | (75.6) | (86.2) | |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 16.6 | 18.4 | 20.6 | 22.0 | 23.7 | 25.7 | 28.7 | 29.7 | 27.4 | 25.0 | 21.2 | 17.9 | 23.1 |
| (61.9) | (65.1) | (69.1) | (71.6) | (74.7) | (78.3) | (83.7) | (85.5) | (81.3) | (77.0) | (70.2) | (64.2) | (73.6) | |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 10.0 | 11.8 | 13.6 | 14.9 | 16.4 | 18.4 | 20.4 | 21.4 | 20.2 | 18.4 | 14.8 | 11.5 | 16.0 |
| (50.0) | (53.2) | (56.5) | (58.8) | (61.5) | (65.1) | (68.7) | (70.5) | (68.4) | (65.1) | (58.6) | (52.7) | (60.8) | |
| Record low °C (°F) | 3.0 | 4.4 | 7.4 | 9.9 | 10.6 | 13.1 | 13.6 | 14.7 | 12.5 | 12.3 | 6.4 | 5.4 | 3.0 |
| (37.4) | (39.9) | (45.3) | (49.8) | (51.1) | (55.6) | (56.5) | (58.5) | (54.5) | (54.1) | (43.5) | (41.7) | (37.4) | |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 2.9 | 4.1 | 2.2 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 2.8 | 6.9 | 5.3 | 3.8 | 3.2 | 34.5 |
| (0.11) | (0.16) | (0.09) | (0.03) | (0.02) | (0.04) | (0.03) | (0.11) | (0.27) | (0.21) | (0.15) | (0.13) | (1.36) | |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 6.2 |
| Source: NOAA [4] |
Transport
Even in a region marked by complex political realities and vast stretches of inhospitable terrain, the practicalities of movement persist. Smara, despite its remote location and contested status, maintains some semblance of intercity transport, a testament to the stubborn human need to go somewhere.
Currently, several bus companies offer regular services connecting Smara to other key urban centers. CTM and Supratours operate daily routes from Smara to the imperial city of Marrakech, a journey that spans considerable distances and diverse landscapes, moving from the stark desert to the more verdant plains. Satas provides daily service to Agadir, a major city on Morocco's Atlantic coast, facilitating access to coastal trade and tourism hubs. Additionally, Supratours maintains a daily connection from Smara to Laayoune, the largest city in Western Sahara itself.
These routes, while functional, often entail long hours on the road, traversing challenging desert conditions. Passengers should anticipate that such journeys are less about comfort and more about necessity, offering a raw experience of the region's expansive geography. The existence of these services underlines the ongoing economic and social ties between Smara and the rest of Morocco-controlled territory, even as the political situation remains unresolved. [ citation needed ]
Notable people
Despite its turbulent history and challenging environment, Smara has been the birthplace or home of individuals who have left a significant mark on the region and beyond. It seems even the most desolate places can produce figures of notable resilience and ambition.
- Brahim Ghali, who rose to become the 3rd President of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, a leadership role in the government-in-exile.
- Fatma El Mehdi, a prominent activist and the secretary general of the National Union of Sahrawi Women, advocating for the rights and representation of Sahrawi women amidst ongoing conflict and displacement.
See also
Notes and sources
Notes
- ^ a b "POPULATION LÉGALE DES RÉGIONS, PROVINCES, PRÉFECTURES, MUNICIPALITÉS, ARRONDISSEMENTS ET COMMUNES DU ROYAUME D'APRÈS LES RÉSULTATS DU RGPH 2014" (in Arabic and French). High Commission for Planning, Morocco. 8 April 2015. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
- ^ "After a defeat of the French at Lebeyratt, Colonel Mouret mounts an attack against Smara. Leaving from Teyarett (in the north-west of Atar) on the ninth of February, he arrives in the Zemmour on the first of March to sack the holy city (Smara). He finds her empty of all people." (Le Rumeur (Guy): Le Grand Méhariste, Paris, Berger Levrault)
- ^ Vieuchange (1988), pp. 2–3.
- ^
- "Smara Climate Normals 1991–2020". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on October 5, 2023. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
Sources
- Vieuchange, Michel (1988) [1932]. Smara: The Forbidden City. Fletcher Allen, Edgar (translation); Vieuchange, Jean (editor; introduction, notes, postscript); Claudel, Paul (preface). (Reprinted ed.). New York: Ecco. ISBN 978-0-88001-146-4.
External links
- Wikimedia Commons has media related to Smara.
- Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Smara.
- Entry in Lexicorient
- ad for "Smara: The Forbidden City" by Jean and Michel Vieuchange (ISBN 0-88001-146-7)
- Satellite view in Google Maps
- 26°44′22″N 11°40′13″W / 26.73944°N 11.67028°W / 26.73944; -11.67028
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Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra region
Capital: Laâyoune Provinces
Municipalities