Taourirt (Province)

Taourirt province in the Oriental region

Mountain landscape near Taourirt

View of Taourirt

The approximately 8500 km² large and about 220,000 inhabitants counting Taourirt Province ( Arabic إقليم تاوْريرت, Tamazight : ⵜⴰⵙⴳⴰ ⵏ ⵜⴰⵡⵔⵉⵔⵜ) is a Moroccan province in the Oriental (region) . The capital of the province is the city of Taourirt .

geography

location

The province of Taourirt borders in the northwest with the province of Nador , in the north with the province Berkane , in the northeast with the prefecture Oujda-Angad , in the east with the province Jerada , in the southeast with the province Figuig , in the southwest with the province Boulemane and in the west to the Province of Guercif .

landscape

The largely semi-desert province is on average about 500 m high (Taourirt 400 m above sea level); the highest elevations are between 1400 and 1600 m. The Oued Moulouya flows through the province from southwest to northeast. Another river, which has dried up for much of the year, is the Oued Za, whose water, together with that of the Moulouya, is stored in a large reservoir north of Taourirt.

climate

The desert-like climate is hot and dry. In summer, the maximum daytime temperatures can reach 40 to 45 ° C; the nights are much cooler depending on the cloudiness with morning temperatures of only 10 to 15 ° C. In winter it is a little cooler with daytime temperatures of 20 to 30 ° C and night temperatures of 5 to 10 ° C.

population

The population of the sparsely populated province consists of almost 100% Berbers who lived here as semi-nomads ( transhumants ) until the early 20th century . More than half of the people now live in the three cities of Taourirt (approx. 80,000), El Aïoun Sidi Mellouk (approx. 35,000) and Debdou (approx. 5,000). The others live in eleven smaller rural communities, the main towns of which, however, are already small-town in character.

economy

The agricultural area of ​​the province - depending on the winter rainfall - is around 120,000 ha. The creation of the Moulouya reservoir north of Taourirt between 1990 and 2000 means that there is enough water for the people and the irrigation of some cultivated areas (approx ha) present. Part of the mountainous regions of the province is considered to be forested, with the trees being spaced far apart. There are smaller cultivation areas for olive and almond trees . Tourism plays almost no role.

history

The area around Taourirt has never played a significant role in Moroccan history. Taourirt Province was created in 1999.

Attractions

First and foremost, the (semi) desert-like landscape is interesting, with some Berber tents made of black goat hair from time to time.

Web links

• Demographics Morocco 1994 + 2004