Zagora (Morocco)
| Zagora زاكورة ⵜⴰⵣⴰⴳⵓⵔⵜ |
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| Basic data | |||||
| State : |
 Morocco
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| Region : | Drâa-Tafilalet | ||||
| Province : | Zagora | ||||
| Coordinates | 30 ° 20 ′ N , 5 ° 50 ′ W | ||||
| Residents : | 40,067 (2014) | ||||
| Height : | 725 m | ||||
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Zagora (partly also in the spelling Zakūrah ; from the Central Atlas Tamazight ⵜⴰⵣⴰⴳⵓⵔⵜ Tazagurt , Arabic زاكورة) is an oasis town in the Moroccan region of Drâa-Tafilalet with around 40,000 inhabitants. It is the capital of the province of the same name .
Location and climate
Zagora is located on the Draa river about 165 km (driving distance) southeast of Ouarzazate at an altitude of about 725 m . The climate is desert-like; the extremely sparse rain (approx. 60 mm / year) falls mainly in the winter half-year.
population
| year | 1994 | 2004 | 2014 |
| Residents | 26,174 | 34,851 | 40,067 |
The population consists mainly of Berbers who immigrated in the last decades of the 20th century . They speak the regional Berber dialect , Moroccan Arabic , French and some English.
economy
The comparatively large date palm oasis is still the center of agricultural production today - barley, beans, onions, cabbage and other vegetables are grown on small plots in spring. Harvest time is already in March / April. In addition, Zagora has always been a market and trading center for the region; In the 20th century, various craft and service businesses were added. Desert tourism also plays a not insignificant role in the city's economic life.
history
The old name of the place was Tazagourt , but due to the lack of written records, not much is known about its history. The Almoravids built a fortress ( kasbah ) on the Jbel Zagora , remains of which can still be seen. It was not until the French protectorate and after the independence of Morocco (1956) that the formerly rather small town developed to its present size.
Attractions
- Zagora itself hardly offers anything worth seeing; only walks through the oases along the Draa are recommended.
- The Jbel Zagora can be climbed; from the summit there is a beautiful panoramic view.
- Surroundings
- To the north of Zagora there are still some halfway original Ksour (→ weblink).
- The Ksar of Tamegroute and its pottery as well as the local Sufi order center of the Nasiriyya , which dates back to the 16th century, are a popular destination.
- One-day or multi-day camel tours into the desert are also offered.
- Desert trips by jeep from Zagora to Rissani are also possible.
Events
The “Zagora Marathon” has taken place every year since 2003 - a run in the desert around the town.
Web links
- Zagora - Photos and information (Engl.)
- Ksar Amzru and Jbel Zagora - Photos and information (Engl.)
- small-sized travel report with photos (Engl.)