Ouzoud Falls (

Amazigh , image = File:Berber_flag.svg , caption = The Berber ethnic flag , population = 36 million , region1 = Morocco , pop1 = 14 million to 18 million , region2 = Algeria , pop2 ...

: ''Imuzzar n wuẓuḍ'', french: Cascades d'Ouzoud) is the collective name for several waterfalls that empty into the

El-Abid River The El Abid River ( (Arabic for "Slaves' River") is a river in Morocco, near Douar El. The El-Abid River has an average elevation of above sea level. It rises in the High Atlas Mountains and enters the Atlantic Ocean at Azemmour west of Casab ...

's (Arabic for "Slaves' River") gorge. This popular tourism destination is located near the

Middle Atlas The Middle Atlas (Amazigh: ⴰⵟⵍⴰⵙ ⴰⵏⴰⵎⵎⴰⵙ, ''Atlas Anammas'', Arabic: الأطلس المتوسط, ''al-Aṭlas al-Mutawassiṭ'') is a mountain range in Morocco. It is part of the Atlas mountain range, a mountainous region ...

village of Tanaghmeilt, in the province of

Azilal Azilal ( ber, ⴰⵣⵉⵍⴰⵍ, ar, أزيلال) is a provincial capital in central Morocco, in the Atlas Mountains. It is also the capital of the M'Goun Conservation Area and home to a unique dialect of Tamazight. History Azilal was origina ...

, 150 km northeast of Marrakech,

Morocco Morocco (),, ) officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is the westernmost country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It overlooks the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and has land borders with Algeria t ...

. 'Ouzoud' means "the act of grinding grain" in Berber. This seems to be confirmed by the frequent mills in the region. The bottom of the falls is accessible through a shaded path of olive trees. At the summit of the falls, there are a dozen old small mills that are still in use. One can also follow a narrow and difficult track leading to the road of

Beni Mellal Beni Mellal ( ar, بني ملال}, ber, ⴰⵢⵜ ⵎⵍⵍⴰⵍ, Ayt Mellal) is a city in north-central Morocco. It is the capital of the Béni Mellal-Khénifra Region and has a population of 192,676 (2014 census). It sits at the foot of Jbe ...

. While descending the gorges from the "wadi el-Abid" in a canyon sometimes one does not distinguish the bottom which is nearly 600 metres down. It is the most visited site of the region. In the vicinity, green valleys, mills, orchards and a superb circuit of the gorges of the El-Abid River are found. Many local and national associations lead projects to protect and preserve the site.

References

External links

* * *{{cite web , url=https://www.nomads-travel-guide.com/places/ouzoud-falls/ , title=Ouzoud Falls , website=www.nomads-travel-guide.com Waterfalls of Morocco Tiered waterfalls Geography of Béni Mellal-Khénifra Tourist attractions in Morocco