Completed in 1993 on the Atlantic coast of Casablanca, the Hassan II Mosque was designed by the French architect Michel Pinseau under the guidance of King Hassan II. It is the second largest mosque in Africa, and its minaret, about 689 feet tall, is the second tallest in the world.
Part of the mosque stands on land and part over the ocean, on a platform built out from a rock outcrop, so worshippers can pray above the sea. The minaret is topped by a laser beam pointed toward Mecca. About 3,300 Moroccan craftsmen worked on it, carving wood, molding plaster and setting mosaic tilework in traditional styles. Its walls are of handcrafted marble, and the roof can open to the sky.
Up to 25,000 worshippers can pray inside the hall and another 80,000 on the grounds outside.
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