Ouarzazate

Amazigh Ouarzazate in the war-Zazat tifinagh ⵡ ⴰ ⵔ ⵣ ⴰ ⵣ ⴰ ⵝ, "quietly" in Arabic ورزازات is a city in southern Morocco known as the gateway to the desert, and the main city of the province the same name. Located at the meeting of the valleys of the wadi and Ouarzazate Oued Dades (from the High Atlas) that make up the Wadi Draa and below its confluence, is the hub of a vast region of southern Morocco. Ouarzazate evokes both the southern foothills of the High Atlas and the nearby desert.

His countless casbahs (hereinafter against the casbah Taourirt) in the mud, mountains and arid plains, valleys and lush oasis of palm trees and the peoples of the earth or of red ocher are the charm of this region and give its application appeal.

The symbol of the city is the kasbah Taourirt that belonged to the Glaoui Pasha, was built in the mid eighteenth century. Is represented in the new notes of 50 dirhams.

Founded in 1928 by French colonial power, has long been a garrison town. In the military field was the basis of aviation against the famous tribe of Ait Attas who fought fiercely against the troops of Enrique de Bournazel, (red jacket man, killed in Morocco in 1933) until 1934 where the rebel leader Assou Oubasslam went to France to prevent the slaughter of the evacuees in the mountains.

Today the town of Ouarzazate is booming tourism and film. It is also one of Morocco's most prized by the film. And have skyrocketed in part or in whole: One hundred thousand dollars in the sun, Lawrence of Arabia, Kundun, Gladiator, Alexander, Asterix and Obelix: Mission Cleopatra, The Mummy, Kingdom of Heaven, Babel, Banzai, Prince of Persia : The Sands of Time, etc.

Ouarzazate has an international airport and is accessible by road from Marrakech (4 hours by bus, taxi 3:30)

Climate:
Ouarzazate has an arid climate with annual rainfall of only 112 mm. Rainfall is erratic and low or zero in the summer. Winter temperatures are cold at night and in summer the heat is hot in the day. The vegetation is very scarce and agriculture is only possible through the use of waters of the Draa Valley to irrigate farmland.