Erg Chebbi
Erg Chebbi ( Arabic عرق الشبي, DMG ʿirq aš-šabbī ) is one of the two ergs in Morocco - large dune landscapes formed by the wind.
location
The nearest larger town is Erfoud , about 40 km further north; Rissani is not much closer (approx. 35 km). Merzouga , the local tourist center, is on the edge of the dunes.
sand dunes
The dunes reach a height of 150 meters. In some places dune grasses grow after rainfall. The entire Erg has an extension of 22 kilometers in north-south direction and up to five kilometers in east-west direction. From Erfoud, Rissani or Merzouga, various small businesses offer camel rides into the dunes. Usually there are only short excursions in the morning or evening hours, but day tours or overnight stays are also possible. Merzouga can no longer be seen in any of the variants and so in some moments the feeling of being in the middle of a timeless and silent wilderness arises.
tourism
There are various local and national organizers who offer camel tours, hikes as well as motorcycle and quad tours. In addition, the dunes are approached by mainly European off-road tourists. At Erg Chebbi and in the immediate vicinity there are various types of accommodation, from traditional Berber tents to simple hostels and luxurious hotels with pools. Moroccans sometimes use the warmth of the summer sand dunes to heal or relieve rheumatic complaints.
See also
The other sandy desert in Morocco is Erg Chegaga , about 45 to 60 kilometers from Mhamid . In contrast to the sandy deserts, stone deserts are called hammada .
Web links
Coordinates: 31 ° 10 ′ 0 ″ N , 3 ° 59 ′ 0 ″ W.