Arfoud
Erfoud ( Arabic notation: أرفود ) is a town in the region of Meknès- Tafilalet in the east of Morocco on the edge of the Sahara. The population was 27 038 inhabitants at the census in 2010. The city is divided into the districts of Hay Salam, Hay Jdid, Hay Ziz, Hay el Bathaa, Annahda Hay, Hay el Hamri.
Location
Erfoud is located on the Ziz (river) about 75 km south of Errachidia (N 13) and 85 km east of Tinejdad (R 702) at an altitude of about 800 m above sea level. inst. The town is overlooked by about 3 km from Jebel Erfoud ( 935 m). A popular destination is about 60 km from the sand dunes of Merzouga.
History
Erfoud was completely rebuilt by the French as a garrison town in 1917. An important military function, the city due to its proximity to the border of Algeria still.
Townscape
The streets of the city have been arranged by the French urban planners perfectly square. The rows of built of hollow blocks new blocks make a rather boring impression. Center of the city is the arcade- lined large 'Place des Forces Armées Royales ' with a variety of Kleingeschaften and workshops.
Economy
Erfoud for several decades is an important place for Lederprokukte all kinds ( ' Filala leather '). In recent decades, Erfoud has developed due to its central location at an important tourist resort. There are several 3 and 4 star hotels and associated restaurants and souvenir shops.
Movies
Erfoud is - in competition with the Atlas Studios in Ouarzazate - with filmmakers as a backdrop city is very popular and so there were the films " March or Die ", " The Mummy " and " Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time " filmed.
Fossils
Erfoud is located on the Ktaoua formation that is rich in about 350 to 480 million years old fossils, especially on trilobites, Orthozeren and goniatites. Very often the trilobite Flexicalymene ouzregui is found in the zugeschliffenen usually already in place boulders and rock sold to international dealers or tourists.
Festivals
Every year in October, the Dattelfest took place, but that often failed due to declining rainfall and declining groundwater levels in recent years because of poor harvests. Since 2010, the event is called salon international des dattes.
Environment
From Erfoud from different tours are possible: for example, trips to the Tafilalet, with its oases and residential buildings made of mud, to Rissani and the sand dunes of Erg Chebbi in Merzouga, on the road of the kasbahs or in the mountains of the Middle Atlas.