Page 267 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Morocco

MOR OC C O REGION B Y REGION  265

OUARZAZATE &

THE SOUTHERN OASES

This fascinating region begins at the southern edge of the
High Atlas, where desert and mountains meet. The stony
desert is broken by green oases where shade-giving date
palms grow in profusion. Cut by steep canyons and studded
with arid hills, it is criss-crossed by wadis right up to the
edge of the Sahara. Here, the light is intensely bright
and the colours sumptuously rich.
The history of Morocco is closely linked to centres on three great wadis, the Draa,
this region bordering the Sahara desert, the Dadès and the Ziz. These rivers have
the birthplace of the great Moroccan created stunning landscapes, carving
dynasties. In the 11th century, Almoravid gorges and canyons out of the sides of
warriors, who came from the Sahara, set the High Atlas and Anti-Atlas. The date
out from the south to extend their empire palm that brings welcome shade to small
from Senegal to Spain. In the 16th century, plots of corn and barley accounts for
the Saadians, who came from Arabia, left the region’s wealth. The palm groves are
the Draa valley to conquer Morocco. punctuated by hundreds of kasbahs and
Lastly, the Alaouites, the dynasty that ksour. These fortified villages and houses
holds power in Morocco today, settled protected the sedentary popu lations
in the Tafilalt region in the 13th century. against attack from nomadic tribes. Many
Trade in gold, salt and slaves between of them are still inhabited today, although
black Africa and Morocco melded the local they are slowly crumbling. The desert
populations, so that Arabs, Berbers and begins south of the oases. Every year,
Haratines, descendants of ancient black aided by drought, it encroaches further
populations, lived side by side. Life here onto arable land.

The central patio of the kasbah at Oulad Driss, in the southern Draa valley
The Dadès Gorge with a dramatic backdrop in the Atlas Mountains

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