This selection of Smithsonian Photo Contest submissions amount to a stunning virtual tour of the Mediterranean nation that includes camels and cats, medina markets and mosques

 

Situated in northwestern Africa, Morocco’s landscape features a stunning range that includes coasts on the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea on one end of the spectrum and the golden dunes of the Sahara, on the other. Between those geographical landmarks are several cities and medinas where Arab, Berber and European cultures merge, offering a glimpse at the area’s history. Nearly 20 million travelers visited the country in 2025, many to visit the country’s nine UNESCO World Heritage sites, such as the medieval town Medina of Fez.