Dades Valley

A little north-east of the southern city of Quarzazate, lies the Dadès Valley-stretching out between the peaks of the High Atlas and the Jbel Sarhro... more

by Eva Lechner

Title

Dades Valley

Artist

Eva Lechner

Medium

Photograph

Description

A little north-east of the southern city of Quarzazate, lies the Dadès Valley-stretching out between the peaks of the High Atlas and the Jbel Sarhro mountain range. Known as 'The Valley of One Thousand Kasbahs', it is the most prominent of the oasis valleys that dominate southern Morocco. Originating from melt water high up in the snowfields of the Haute Atlas, the river Dadès cuts a steep gorge, known as the Dadès Gorge, at Aït Oudinar and Aït Ali. From here, it flows across the broad Dadès Valley in a south-westerly direction towards Quarzazate.

Traditionally, the people of this region lived in a large number of small Kasbah settlements scattered across the fertile river plain. In recent years, however, they have been leaving the valley and been congregating in larger villages along the valley's edge, leaving only a few Kasbah to be populated and maintained in perfect condition.

Uploaded

July 18th, 2023