Laayoune, also spelled El Aaiún, is the largest city in the disputed territory of Western Sahara, with 262,791 residents as of 2024, and capital of the Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra region administered by Morocco under United Nations supervision through MINURSO. Founded in 1938 by Spanish captain Antonio de Oro as a military outpost, it became the administrative center of Spanish Sahara in 1958, was annexed by Morocco after Spain's 1975 withdrawal, and grew rapidly on phosphate mining at nearby Bou Craa; it also serves as the de jure capital claimed by the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.
Facts
Area (sq km) Founding Year Population Estimate Year Elevation (m) Sources
1. Laayoune - Wikipedia
Lead section
Laayoune or El Aaiún (Arabic: العيون, al-ʕuyūn [alʕujuːn], Hassaniyya: [ˈləʕjuːn] , lit. 'The Springs') is the largest city of the disputed territory of Western Sahara, with a population of 262,791 in 2024.
Infobox, population_as_of
2024
Infobox, area_total_km2
247.8
Body, History section
The city was founded by the Spanish captain Antonio de Oro in 1938
Wikidata claim P2044 (elevation above sea level)
72
Wikidata claim P625 coordinate location (latitude component)
27.15,-13.2
Wikidata claim P625 coordinate location (longitude component)
27.15,-13.2
- In Group: Cities of Northern Africa (World), Wikipedia; part-of country and UN M49 subregion
View the SourceWikidata: Laayoune
Wikidata Q47837, class allow-list match verified against P17/real-world identity (w-geo-qidcite-0926).View the Source Reader Challenges (0)
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