Tizi n'Tichka

31.285833333333 - 7.3808333333333Koordinaten: 31 ° 17 ' N, 7 ° 23' W

Etymology

The two words tizi and tichka come from the Berber language of Tachelhit: tizi the meaning of " mountain pasture ", tichka has meant so much as "dangerous".

Location

The pass is the highest point of the connection between Marrakech and Ouarzazate Road N9; it forms the border between the regions of Marrakech- Tensift -El Haouz and Souss -Massa -Draa. Therefore, the road is the shortest and usually also the fastest connection between the level of Marrakech and the coastal towns of the Northwest (Casablanca, El Jadida, Safi ) and the large areas of the Sahara region ( Ouarzazate, Draa Valley) and is also used by trucks and buses traveled.

Practicability

The well passable, but from about 10 km before the pass, winding trail is sometimes closed during the winter months ( November to March) after heavy or prolonged snowfalls. As the daytime temperatures during the day almost always reach plus degrees also at altitudes of over 2,000 m in the south of Morocco, the locks are also repealed usually after a few hours, in rare cases only after days. From altitude about 1,800 m the course of the road is marked by lateral red and yellow bars.

Infrastructure

At the summit in 2260 m height there are several souvenir shops ( rock crystals, fossils, ceramics, Berber jewelry, blankets, etc.) and cafes. Also, before and after the pass there are souvenir stalls and simple catering facilities (restaurants, cafes )

History

The track was already known to the Berber tribes of earlier centuries that their cattle grazed (sheep, goats) on rocky, but in places, grassy slopes in summer. During the French colonial rule of the old trade route was expanded into a runway. In the 1960s, the route was first paved.

Places

The following towns are located at or near the pass route:

• Ait - Ourir
• Taddert
• Telouet
• Igherm n'Ougdal
• Ait Benhaddou