Taroudant Province

The province of Taroudant (Arabic إقليم تارودانت ) has about 780 661 inhabitants and is situated in the region of Souss -Massa- Daraâ in southern Morocco. The capital of the province of the same name ( Taroudant ) has 72 797 inhabitants ( 2006).

• 4.1 Medical care
• 4.2 Water supply

• 5.1 Review
• 5.2 Current time
• 5.3 Tourism
• 5.4 Crafts

• 6.1 region
• 6.2 City Taroudant

Geography

The southern Morocco between Ouarzazate and Erfoud is characterized by the foothills of the High Atlas. Rugged gorges and flourishing oases form fascinating color contrasts. This composition is complemented by the red-brown clay architecture of the Berbers. In the oasis wadis of Ziz, Dades and Draa, or the Souss plain, are built of rammed earth, the fortified villages ( Ksour ) and Kasbahs that inspire for decades Morocco travelers. Limited by the High Atlas and the Anti-Atlas and by the massif of Jbel Sirwa, the Souss plain forms an up to 40 km wide and 150 km long river valley, which from its highest point in Taroudant (600 m) to the Atlantic Ocean to lowers.

The Souss plain is one of the most fertile lands of Morocco. You can find plastic sheeting protected banana plantations, citrus plantations, huge vegetable fields and - in drier slopes - even Arganienbäume (see below). The lush gardens are full of palm trees, bougainvillea and roses proliferate wildly. In the flow of the river Oued Souss, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean south of Agadir, that is, between the mountain ranges of the High Atlas in the north and the Anti-Atlas in the south, in the area east of Agadir to Taroudant and Oulad Teima are the most water -bearing strata to a depth of 270 meters or almost totally dried up. One area where you could 20 years ago to pump water enough in 30 to 40 meters, is deserted, if not decisive measures are taken.

The Souss- level

At the background of almost nationwide agricultural use of the Souss plain originally occurring here plant and animal species have been largely suppressed.

Flora

The main crops are: olive trees, pistachios, laurel, date palms, agaves, cacti, citrus trees (which deliver citrus fruits), almond, peach, mulberry, walnut, fig, wine, bananas, cotton, wheat, barley, millet, peppers, artichoke, eggplant, corn, eucalyptus, acacia, oleander, Thuja, cypress, cedar, poplar and Arganien.

Pets

Farm animals such as poultry, sheep, goats, cattle, horses, camels, donkeys and mules. Dogs and cats are not really "pets", but out in Morocco by a rather free, wild life. Camel, horse, donkey and mule are traditional transport - even today where you can not afford a motor vehicle or the distance is not passable. To the man other animals such as cattle, goats and sheep have to worry more intense than " supplier " of meat and skins and wool for the manufacture of clothing, tents, carpets. Cattle make it in quantitative terms, the highest demands on their pasture plants and are correspondingly rare. Pigs do not exist in the Islamic world.

The mountains

Flora

The naturally occurring plants here are strong, tough and thrive with little water. Occurring species are: Pistacia atlantica, Acacia gummifera, Argania spinosa, Stipa tenacissima, Artemisia herba - alba. Various types of cacti growing wild in the countryside strewn with stones; Journal of cacti ( Opuntia ) bear fruit ( ' prickly pear ') out.

As almost the only crop barley is grown in the stone -strewn mountain regions of southwestern Morocco that provides only low yields because of the dry climate and is already being harvested in late April / early May. Fruits, vegetables, potatoes, flour, etc. must be purchased on the market.

Argan tree

The argan tree is one of the oldest trees in the world and is in the southwest of Morocco endemic, that is, it grows nowhere else in the world. The tree grows well on rocky and dry soils, where his crown can reach a circumference of about 15 meters. The most crooked branches of the tree were used in earlier times for construction (ceiling and stair wood), but are used up to the present day as firewood to bake bread. The plum or olive-like fruits can not be eaten by humans, but are very covetous for goats, often climbing around in the trees. The seeds contained in the fruit flesh are thicker than hazelnuts and very difficult aufzuschlagen. The seeds in pairs contained therein are only slightly larger than sunflower seeds. From the roasted seeds of the fruit of the Argan tree ( Argania spinosa) a tasty oil is produced by grinding and kneading for hours - oil from unroasted seeds toward the manufacture of skin care products in the ( French ) cosmetics industry.

Fauna

Due to the high temperatures and to the arid climate of the south of Morocco is ideal for a variety of specialized species: insects form the staple food for reptiles ( eg, lizards, geckos, skinks ), birds, rodents and - systematically - so-called insectivores (such as hedgehogs and shrews ). One can find bees, ants, day butterflies and moths, spiders, lizards, pigeons, sparrows, nightingales, owls, owls, mice and hedgehogs. Even species that can hardly gets to see in Europe, live here: tortoises, dung beetle ( scarab ) and Others Over the last remaining forests and bush pigs live..

Political Structure

History

The study of history of Morocco in terms of settlements and entire regions - regardless of whether you meet fortified Agadiren in the Anti-Atlas or defiant Kasbahs in southern Morocco - is hard to separate from each other. People in earlier times were not protected by a central power. Consisting of families and family associations population was often in dispute and led for centuries bitter feuds against each other. Another factor unrest were the only intermittently or continuously with their livestock (sheep, goats) roving ( semi-) nomadic tribes. Thus, the typical Agadire are seen as the Moroccan counterpart to the European castles and as precursors for later, erected fortifications with a growing population of entire cities ( city wall Taroudant ).

Health situation

Medical care

For centuries, the health situation was problematic - especially the rural population suffered long under poor medical care. But the situation in the recent past but has improved considerably through the development of infrastructure ( mobile network, roads, health centers ) and by steadily improved training of medical personnel.

Water supply

Almost a third of the population has no access to clean drinking water. The drinking water supply is characterized in Morocco by strong disparities between cities and rural areas. The urban population was supplied in 2000 to 97% with safe drinking water, while the rural population, whose share in the total population of Morocco is 50 %, was supplied only to 30-40 %. In the provinces of Taroudant and Tiznit 80 % of the population live in rural areas. A majority of these people had for many years only under insanitary conditions, access to drinking water. They supply mostly from open dug wells, in the mountains and rain water cisterns and source versions are used. The availability of water is subject to sharp fluctuations over the course of up to dry traps of wells in the summer. Through the construction of small dams and aqueducts, the situation in recent years has, however, improved significantly.

Most houses in rural areas have only sewage septic tanks; Treatment plants - even in the cities - still rare. Often dug wells were in the vicinity of these septic tanks - this is a significant risk to the health of the people affected were. But this problem has been alleviated by the accelerated construction of water lines.

Economy

Review

Arabs were the first to be operated sugar cane cultivation on a large scale. From the year 700 AD they built sugarcane in Morocco, Egypt and Spain. By declining sugar cane exports Taroudant lost in the 18th century more and more important. An important role is also played the closing of the port of Agadir in favor of the new of Essaouira in 1765.

Current time

Agriculture employs 41 % of the workforce. The remaining part owned by Europeans, large companies are important for market production. In addition, in the traditional sector is dominated by small businesses. Crops are cereals, legumes, vegetables, fruit, olives, citrus fruits, cotton, wine, almonds, dates and tobacco. The livestock (sheep, goats, cattle, donkeys, camels, horses) in the steppes of the Meseta, in eastern Morocco and in the mountains is operated partly nomadic. Around 10% of forests are cork oak (Morocco is the third largest Korkproduzent the Earth). The decline in sugar cane cultivation and expansion of fruit and vegetable production have contributed to the increase of the economic efficiency of agricultural production in Loukkos perimeter and conservation of water resources. The indicators for the respective areas have been achieved.

After the country had fallen into an almost hopeless economic situation of the early 80s, Morocco could become successful with the support of World Bank and International Monetary Fund major reforms. They were accompanied by a series of debt restructuring with private and public creditors. After Moroccan information farm incomes rose between 1998 and 2002 by approx. 26%. Morocco Today's economy is intertwined heavily on foreign trade with Europe. However, globalization and the agreed 2012 free trade zone with the European Union ( EU) pose in view of the insufficient competitiveness of many companies big risks for employment in the country. Most important source of foreign currency along with tourism are the transfers of 1.6 million migrant workers, of which about half work in France. The economic situation has improved considerably since then.

Today, the city and region Taroudant is a commercial and crafts center, a popular day trip destination of tourists from Agadir ( about 80 km).

Tourism

Craft traditions of Morocco and the current mass tourism complement each other perfectly. Both divisions have grown into a major economic factor approach. Especially the Taroudant region - with its resource old original places and picturesque setting - can benefit here. Nevertheless, this region is an example of soft integration of tourism in historic places without the atmosphere to change too much. Agadir, however, grown to 260,000 inhabitants ( 1960: 50,000 ) has, besides the sun, beach and sea nothing to offer to the tourists after the 1960 earthquake.

Crafts

• Woodworking: The carpenters and artisans of Morocco mainly use cedar or Thuja wood jewelery boxes, chess boards, but also to figurative or abstract sculptures.
• Basketry: baskets, bowls and boxes as well as hats made ​​of colored straw are things that are produced in almost all villages.
• Ceramics: On the potter's wheel or in construction technique produced bowls or dishes with (sometimes very simple ) glazes are also available almost everywhere.

• Manual labor in the province of Taroudant

• Metals: In the North African home decor a lot of copper and brass used. In Marrakech they emboss and copper in Taroudant is processed with the hammer. Tiznit is famous for the work of its gold and silversmiths. Chased silver daggers, Fantasia rifles, massive Braqo de Prata and bottom rings and filigree silver jewelry, set with precious stones, come from the workshops of artisans.
• Jewelry: Silver is also processed in the villages of the plains and in the mountains.
• Stones: candlesticks, jewelery boxes etc. made ​​and engraved with patterns from the soft stone from Taroudant.

Attractions

Region

• Only a few residential castles made ​​of clay ( Tighremts ) rise - as relics of a bygone time - both on the barren sand and stone deserts as well as in fertile (mountain) oases.
• For small to medium sized stones assembled Agadire are - especially in the barren mountain regions of the Anti-Atlas - the landscape. The most important are the Agadir Tasguent and standing at a little distance from Agadire Itourhaine ( Aït Ourhain ) and Dou Tagadirt. Are still a few of these so characteristic of the Berber architecture buildings also in the vicinity of Igherm.

City ​​Taroudant

• City ​​wall
• Medina, almost completely covered souks
• Salam Palace, former palace of the Pasha of Taroudant
• Atlas Panorama
• Markets: On market days, the city of inhabitants of the surrounding villages and tourists from the nearby holiday resorts populated.

Traffic

From the bus station in Taroudant, there are many connections to Agadir, Marrakech, Ouarzazate, Tata and Tafraoute.