El-Kelâa M'Gouna
| El Kelâa M'Gouna | |||||
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| Basic data | |||||
| State : |
 Morocco
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| Region : | Drâa-Tafilalet | ||||
| Province : | Tinghir | ||||
| Coordinates | 31 ° 14 ′ N , 6 ° 8 ′ W | ||||
| Residents : | 17,640 (2014) | ||||
| Height : | 1470 m | ||||
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Kelâa M'Gouna ( Arabic قلعة مكونة), also Tighremt n 'Imgunen ( Zentralatlas-Tamazight ⵜⵉⵖⵔⵎⵜ ⵏ ⵉⵎⴳⵓⵏⵏ Tiɣremt n Imgunn ) also El-Kelâa (des) M'Gouna , El Kelaâ Mgouna or Kalaat M'Gouna is an oasis town with approx. 20,000 inhabitants in the province of Tinghir in the region Drâa Tafilalet in southern Morocco . It is known as the rose city of Morocco. The name of the city is believed to have originated from Kelâa ("fortress") and Mgouna (name of a Berber tribe ).
Location and climate
The city of El-Kelâa M'Gouna is located about 50 km northeast of Skoura at an altitude of about 1,470 meters on the " Street of the Kasbah " on Assif M'Goun , a river of the High Atlas Mountains coming into the Dades opens . The climate is desert-like; the sparse rain (approx. 155 mm / year) falls almost exclusively in the winter half-year.
Population development
| year | 1994 | 2004 | 2014 |
| Residents | 10,524 | 14,190 | 17,640 |
The continuing population growth is mainly due to the immigration of Berber families from the surrounding mountain regions.
economy
The main economic factor is the production of rose oil and rose water . During the main harvest season, around 400 tons of rose blossoms are harvested daily from the 4200 km long rose hedges and processed into rose water in two factories. The rose water is mainly used by the residents for baking and cooking, the rose oil is used as the essence for perfume production . In addition to the manufacture of rose products, the trade in livestock and tourism also play a major role.
Attractions
Above the city is the kasbah of the former pasha Tihami al-Glawi of Marrakech . The village is bordered by the valley of the roses , a large rose-growing area that also houses a rose park . Other attractions include the district Derb Jdid and El Had and lying near Dades Gorge .
Regular events
From the first Friday after May 1st, after the rose blossom harvest, the annual Fête des Roses is celebrated, a three-day rose festival that attracts many visitors and rose connoisseurs from all over the world. The highlight of the festival is the election of the rose queen. Music and dance events as well as a big parade are also on the program. Another regular event is the market day that takes place every Wednesday.
Town twinning
In 2007 there were talks about a town twinning with the "Rose City " Uetersen ; however, the project is no longer being pursued.
