Oasis and Palms,
the Ziz Valley
11/05/07 13:31 Filed in:
Morocco
Articles
The Ziz Valley in the
south of
Morocco was part of a caravan
route that took travelers from the
desert near Merzouga to the
Mediterranean Sea. The Valley itself
is a welcome relief from the desert
brown. Palm trees and dates grow in
abundance. Entry point into the Ziz is
Source Bleue de Meski. Men
tending fields and donkeys carrying
goods from one village to another are
common sights. Up the river are the
ruins of an old fortress or ksar. A
steep climb gives a reward to the
ruins and ancient structures of the
area.
In the region is one of Morocco’s most
important oases, Tafilalet. Additionally,
another place of interest is the Wadi Ziz,
a long limestone corridor with palm trees
that provide shade for the Kasbah of Ifri,
carved out by the Ziz River. Waters of the
Ziz River form a vast emerald lake by the
Hassan Addakhil Dam. Women can be seen
doing their laundry in the shade of apricot
trees growing around the lake.
The road through the Ziz Valley to Erfoud
descends from the plateau where the oasis
of Tafilalet is found. The road passes
between the sheer sides of the valley and
winds through several villages. It
underscores the difference of the lush
valley to the surrounding rocky desert.
Written by: Carole Morris
Provided by:
Morocco
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