- Ourika River
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Ourika River, in the Ourika Valley, Morocco
Salt production in Ourika ValleyOurika River (Arabic: نهر أوريكا) (French: Oued Ourika) is a river in Morocco, at 31°24′00″N 7°47′00″W / 31.4°N 7.7833333°W. It rises in the High Atlas and flows through the Ourika Valley, 30 km from Marrakech.
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Natural history
A number of interesting plants have been recorded in this valley beginning in the late 19th century including Fraxinus dimorpha.[1] This valley is the sole location within the High Atlas Range where the endangered primate Barbary Macaque, Macaca sylvanus is known to occur; this primate is found in the Middle Atlas and a few disjunctive populations in Algeria and Gibraltar.[2]
Ourika Valley, due to its many waterfalls and several attractions, is a very popular day-trip destination from Marrakech.
The region is inhabited by Berber people who practice a traditional way of life. Despite its proximity to Marrakech, it is still considered relatively 'unspoiled.'
Drying carpets at a Berber village factory in Ourika Valley.References
- C. Michael Hogan (2008) Barbary Macaque: Macaca sylvanus, Globaltwitcher.com, ed. Nicklas Stromberg
- Joseph Dalton Hooker, John Ball and George Maw (1878) Journal of a Tour in Marocco and the Great Atlas, Macmillan and company, 499 pages
Line notes
External links
Categories:- Rivers of Morocco
- Atlas Mountains
- Morocco geography stubs
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