Ouirgane

Ouirgane
Rural commune and town
Ouirgane and Yacoub el Mansour barrage
Ouirgane Location in Morocco
Coordinates: 31°11′N8°5′W / 31.183°N 8.083°W / 31.183; -8.083
Country	Morocco
Region	Marrakesh-Safi
Province	Al Haouz Province
Population  (2004)
• Total	6,916
Time zone	UTC+0 (WET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+1 (WEST)

Ouirgane is a small town and rural commune in Al Haouz Province of the Marrakesh-Tensift-El Haouz region of Morocco. At the time of the 2004 census, the commune had a total population of 6916 people living in 1281 households. ^[1] It is a Berber village.

Geography

Ouirgane backed by the Atlas Range, view from northwest

Ouirgane is situated in the High Atlas mountains in the heart of the Toubkal National Park at about 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) above sea level. ^{[2] [3]} By road it is located 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) southwest of Asni and 65 kilometres (40 mi) south of Marrakesh along the S501 road. ^{[4] [3]} The Oued Nfis River flows through the valley of the commune. ^[5] The village itself lies on the eastern bank of the Yacoub el Mansour reservoir and dam across the Oued Nfis river. ^[6] The village is set amongst olive trees.

Landmarks

Ouirgane has a souq noted for its Berber pottery, ^[7] the Tin Mal Mosque, a ruined kasbah, and several salt mines in the vicinity. ^[7] There are also two notable hotels with facing gardens; a stream near the hotels "drains the western face of Jbel Toubkal". ^[8] La Roseraie hotel has horse-riding facilities to accommodate the many tourists who visit during the summer months; ^[9] it also has a health center above the mineral stream. ^[8] The Auberge au Sanglier qui Fume is a hunter's lodge. ^[10] Tagadirt n'Bour is constructed of drystone walls and is located 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) south of the village. ^[11]

Gallery

• 
  Typical narrow alley
• 
  Traditional building with central courtyard
• 
  Yacoub el Mansour Dam
• 
  Yacoub el Mansour Reservoir
• 
  Olive grove

See also

• Yacoub el Mansour Dam

References

1. "Recensement général de la population et de l'habitat de 2004" (PDF). Haut-commissariat au Plan, Lavieeco.com. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
2. "Ouirgane". Naturally Morocco. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
3. McLachlan, Anne; McLachlan, Keith (October 1994). 1995 North African Handbook: With Andalucia-Moorish Southern Spain. McGraw-Hill. p. 315. ISBN   978-0-8442-8978-6 . Retrieved 7 June 2012.
4. Maps (Map). Google Maps.
5. "Ouirgane". Nomads Travel.
6. Lonely Planet Publications (Firm) (2009). Morocco. Lonely Planet Publications. p. 324. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
7. DORLING KINDERSLEY; Dorling Kindersley Publishing Staff (1 December 2010). Morocco. Dorling Kindersley Limited. p. 252. ISBN   978-1-4053-5858-3 . Retrieved 7 June 2012.
8. Rogerson, Barnaby (1 October 2000). Marrakesh, Fez, Rabat. New Holland Publishers. p. 136. ISBN   978-1-86011-973-6 . Retrieved 7 June 2012.
9. Sullivan, Paul (8 March 2007). A Hedonist's Guide to Marrakech. A Hedonist's guide to... p. 177. ISBN   978-1-905428-06-9 . Retrieved 7 June 2012.
10. Stallings, Douglas (21 February 2012). Fodor's Morocco. Random House Digital, Inc. pp. 268–. ISBN   978-0-307-92832-0 . Retrieved 7 June 2012.
11. Barnaby Rogerson (1 October 2000). Marrakesh, Fez, Rabat. New Holland Publishers. pp. 136–. ISBN   978-1-86011-973-6 . Retrieved 7 June 2012.