Laâyoune, also El Aaiún, is the unofficial capital of Western Sahara, a former Spanish country now mostly controlled and occupied by Morocco.
The city has a population of around 198,200 and is the largest city in Western Sahara.
The term "El Aaiún" is the Spanish name for the territory, and one that was used exclusively before the Moroccan invasion of Western Sahara. The term "Laâyoune" is a French transliteration used in Moroccan literature. The former is the preferred nomenclature of Saharawis, the traditional inhabitants of the land.
Laayoune has through less than 25 years risen to legendary status in Morocco- the further north you get in Morocco, the more enthusiastic the accounts of the beauty of Laayoune get.
Laayoune is not without charm, and even if it appears to be a standard Moroccan town at first, there is enough to sustain the interest of the visitor for a couple of days.
Laayoune's importance came principally of being the administrative centre of the phosphate industry.
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