Oum er-Rbia
| Oum er-Rbia | ||
 Headwaters of the Oum er-Rbia |
||
| Data | ||
| location | Morocco | |
| River system | Oum er-Rbia | |
| source |
Middle Atlas , about 40 km northeast of Khenifra 33 ° 1 ′ 1 ″ N , 5 ° 19 ′ 12 ″ W |
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| Source height | 1613 m | |
| muzzle | north of Azemmour in the Atlantic Coordinates: 33 ° 19 ′ 9 ″ N , 8 ° 20 ′ 16 ″ W 33 ° 19 ′ 9 ″ N , 8 ° 20 ′ 16 ″ W |
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| Mouth height | 0 m | |
| Height difference | 1613 m | |
| Bottom slope | 2.9 ‰ | |
| length | 560 km | |
| Reservoirs flowed through | Al Massira dam , reservoir Sidi Saïd Maachou | |
| Big cities | Khenifra | |
| Medium-sized cities | Kasba Tadla , Azemmour | |
The approximately 560 km long Oued Oum er-Rbia ( Arabic أم الربيع, DMG Umm ar-rabīʿ , Moroccan Tamazight ⴰⵙⵉⴼ ⵏ ⵓⵎ ⵔⴰⴱⵉⵄ Asif n Um Rabiɛ ) is - despite strong seasonal fluctuations - together with the Oued Sebou the longest and most water-rich river in Morocco .
etymology
Oum er-Rbia is commonly translated as “mother of spring”, which, however, requires that the name is of Arabic origin. A derivation from the Berber language Central Atlas Tamazight is more likely ; thereafter the name would roughly translate as "river with many springs".
geography
The relatively water-rich river has its source in the Middle Atlas and initially runs in a south-westerly and later in a north-westerly direction. It takes in several smaller tributaries, including the Oued Day , Oued El Abid and Oued Tessaout , is dammed several times - the largest and longest dam is the Al Massira reservoir - and finally flows into the Atlantic about 5 km north of Azemmour .
economy
The Oum er-Rbia is of great importance for the drinking water supply of the population in large parts of central Morocco as well as for the irrigation of the agricultural areas in the northern Tadla and Doukkala plains.
history
The history of the settlement of the Tadla Plain by Berber peoples goes back a long way, but because of the Berber culture without writing, there is no written evidence. Cultivation and irrigation methods were intensified under Arab influence and later under the colonial rule of the French .
Attractions
The headwaters of the Oum er-Rbia are lined with small restaurant huts. A single-arch bridge with two smaller accompanying arches over the river in Khenifra is known as the Pont Portugais - but whether it was actually built by the Portuguese is questionable; in any case, European influences are evident, as neither Arabs nor Berbers built arched bridges in Morocco. A multi-arched Pont Portugais crosses the river in Kasba Tadla. About 50 km before the mouth of the river, above the village of Boulaouane , there is an imposing mountain fortress ( kasbah ) built in the 18th century under Mulai Ismail .
tourism
Although the upper reaches of the Oum er-Rbia are suitable for whitewater tours with canoes or rubber dinghies from March to May, the river has so far been of little tourist importance.
