Guelmim

Guelmim (Arabic كلميم ), also Goulimine or Guelmin, is a town in southern Morocco. It belongs to the province of Guelmim in the region Guelmim-Es Semara.

28.9886 - 10.06Koordinaten: 28 ° 59 'N, 10 ° 4' W

Location

The city is capital of the province Guelmim, counts 117,000 inhabitants (2006) and lies at the foot of the mountain chain of the Anti-Atlas. Through the village runs parallel to the Atlantic coast from Tangier through the Western Sahara to Mauritania trunk road runs. The frequently referred to as the gateway to the desert Guelmim is a regional trading center and garrison town.

Of urban development divided the city into three sections. In the southwestern part of the resulting 1715 Casbah district Oued Oum el Achar is rectangular with its narrow streets. The northeastern part Guelmims forms the modern new town. It is characterized by uniform residential buildings and barracks and has a modern infrastructure. The third area is the lower city, which was built during the Spanish colonial period, and is dominated by older buildings with a reddish color.

History

Since the 11th century the site of a large caravans Mart and Target was the subject of Mauritania and Senegal through the Sahara to here. Was traded in slaves, gold, salt animals and materials. Of special importance was the market for the trading of camels. With 20,000 to 40,000 nomads led here from camels was the camel market is the largest in all of Africa. Even in the 1960s, 500 dromedaries were traded weekly. However, in the wake of the loss of connections to south through the Western Sahara conflict and the more expectant settled life of the nomads of the market lost this function and is today a normal weekly market dar. Even today, however, camels, goats and sheep are still trading, but only in a regional context.

People

In Guelmim the patron saint of the city of Sidi Al Ghazi is buried, who lived the end of the 18th century.

Events

Every Saturday is the souk place with a camel market. Typical of the market were dressed in a blue Draa men of the nomadic tribe of the Reguibat, called Blue Men. However, today the Blue Men of the market are mostly clad tourists locals.

On the events based in the region Guedra dance is often performed.

The end of June / beginning of July will be held camel races. Religious festivals in honor of Sidi Al Gahzis and Sidi Hamed Ben Amar M ` are held in May and July.

Environment

10 km southeast of the city is the oasis as Asrir, which is a popular destination for tourists. 13 km northeast of the town is the village on the Abaynou an oasis and hot water resources which are frequented by tourists very high.