Zagora, Morocco
Zagora زاكورة | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 30°19′50″N 5°50′17″W / 30.33056°N 5.83806°W | |
Country | Morocco |
Region | Drâa-Tafilalet |
Province | Zagora |
Population (2004) | |
• Total | 34,851 |
Time zone | UTC+0 (WET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+1 (WEST) |
Zagora (Arabic: زاكورة) is a town located in the Draa River valley in the Moroccan region of Drâa-Tafilalet.
On the base of the Zagora mountain the remains of an Almoravid fortress can still be seen.[1] The exact location of the former Almoravid mosque is still a matter of dispute. Each year the moussem (festival) of the Sufi saint moulay Abdelkader Jilali is celebrated at Zagora.
Languages spoken in the city include Moroccan Arabic, Tachelhit and Tamazight.
A sign at the town border states "Tombouctou 52 days", the supposed time it takes to get to Timbuktu, Mali on foot or camel. The original sign has been replaced by a mural painting.[2]
Climate
[edit]Zagora has a hot desert climate (Köppen climate classification BWh).
Climate data for Zagora | |||||||||||||
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Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 20.3 (68.5) | 22.4 (72.3) | 26.0 (78.8) | 30.7 (87.3) | 35.5 (95.9) | 40.8 (105.4) | 44.9 (112.8) | 43.5 (110.3) | 36.7 (98.1) | 30.8 (87.4) | 25.2 (77.4) | 20.4 (68.7) | 31.4 (88.6) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 3.8 (38.8) | 5.9 (42.6) | 9.6 (49.3) | 13.1 (55.6) | 17.1 (62.8) | 21.4 (70.5) | 25.1 (77.2) | 25.0 (77.0) | 19.9 (67.8) | 15.1 (59.2) | 10.6 (51.1) | 5.5 (41.9) | 14.3 (57.8) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 4 (0.2) | 3 (0.1) | 5 (0.2) | 1 (0.0) | 2 (0.1) | 1 (0.0) | 1 (0.0) | 3 (0.1) | 6 (0.2) | 13 (0.5) | 15 (0.6) | 7 (0.3) | 61 (2.4) |
Source: Climate-data.org |
Culture
[edit]Zagora is also noted for international events such as the Zagora Marathon and the Nomads Festival in M'Hamid.
Local institutions
[edit]The weekly outdoor market (souk) is held on Sunday in the city center.[3]
Features
[edit]- Military castle
References
[edit]- ^ Allain (Ch) & Meunie (J.), "La forteresse almoravide de Zagora", Hespéris, 1956, vol. xliii, fasc. 2, pp. 305–325.
- ^ blog.travel-exploration.com Travel-blog with picture of the old and new sign. Sitat: The town has recently had a new “52 Days to Timbuktu “ sign painted and posted however the old one still remains.
- ^ List of weekly open-air markets in the province of Zagora