Ziz Gorges
The Ziz Gorges were formed by the river of the same name, which begins west of Rich before it veers south to carve a passage through the rocky Eastern High Atlas down to the pre-Saharan Tafilalt, sprouting palmeraies along its course. About 25km (16 miles) from Rich, the river-shadowing Midelt-Er Rachidia road descends through the Zaabal Tunnel, also known as Tunnel du Legionnaire -- a 200m (656-ft.) passage blasted through the mountains by the French in 1930 to open the route to the Saharan south -- and enters the stunning Ziz Gorges. Around 2km (1 1/4 miles) long and at times almost as high, the gorges are both dramatic and photogenic, subtly changing color as the day wears on. The surrounding barren mountain landscape, interrupted by the odd watered oasis or cliff-side ksour, only serves to accentuate the sense of isolation and awe.
There are a couple of viewpoints and picnic spots along the route, and I encourage you to hop out and take in the view. Heading south, the gorges emerge near the wide Barrage Hassan Adhakil, a Moroccan-built dam providing irrigation and electricity to the region and lessening the threat of flash flooding farther downstream. The route, and consequently the Eastern High Atlas, bottoms out at the nearby administrative and military center of Er Rachidia, from where most travelers continue on to the desert oases and sands.
The Ziz Gorges were formed by the river of the same name, which begins west of Rich before it veers south to carve a passage through the rocky Eastern High Atlas down to the pre-Saharan Tafilalt, sprouting palmeraies along its course. About 25km (16 miles) from Rich, the river-shadowing Midelt-Er Rachidia road descends through the Zaabal Tunnel, also known as Tunnel du Legionnaire -- a 200m (656-ft.) passage blasted through the mountains by the French in 1930 to open the route to the Saharan south -- and enters the stunning Ziz Gorges. Around 2km (1 1/4 miles) long and at times almost as high, the gorges are both dramatic and photogenic, subtly changing color as the day wears on. The surrounding barren mountain landscape, interrupted by the odd watered oasis or cliff-side ksour, only serves to accentuate the sense of isolation and awe.
There are a couple of viewpoints and picnic spots along the route, and I encourage you to hop out and take in the view. Heading south, the gorges emerge near the wide Barrage Hassan Adhakil, a Moroccan-built dam providing irrigation and electricity to the region and lessening the threat of flash flooding farther downstream. The route, and consequently the Eastern High Atlas, bottoms out at the nearby administrative and military center of Er Rachidia, from where most travelers continue on to the desert oases and sands.
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