The Sahara desert of Morocco

The Sahara is the world's largest desert. Only a small part of the Sahara is fertile and it is here that corn, dates and other fruits grow. These parts are fed by underground rivers and oases. The Sahara can be an inspirational experience at night, with the air being crisp, clean and clear and the stars being so close you can almost touch them. The desert also has a deafening silence at night.

The Sahara desert stretches across much of North Africa covering over 9 000 000 square kilometers (roughly the size of the United States)। In fact, the Sahara covers some 30% of the entire African continent. It is the hottest place in the world with summer temperatures that often exceeds 57 degrees Celsius. It has an annual rainfall of 0 - 25 millimeters and is very windy with windstorms sweeping the sand up to heights of 1000 meters and moving the sand dunes constantly.

The Sahara consists of one quarter volcanic mountains, one quarter sand, rocks and gravel-covered plains and small areas of vast permanent vegetation. The vegetation includes shrubs, grasses, and trees in the highland and in the oases along the river beds. Some of the plants are well adjusted to the climate since they sprout within three days of rain and sow their seeds within two weeks after that.

Animals in the Sahara are mainly Gerbils, Cape Hare, Deer, Weasels, Baboons, Jackals, Sand Foxes, Mongooses, Desert Hedgehogs and over 300 bird species.

The following towns and villages are located in the Sahara of Morocco:

Tata: Located where the desert meets the mountains, this small desert town has the reputation for being the hottest town in Morocco.

Tleta Tagmout: A desert oasis

Foum Zguid: Located where the Jebel Bani range meets the desert, this charming desert town boasts one of the largest palm groves in Morocco.

Zagora: Located in the magnificent Drâa Valley, this town is a popular starting for camel excursions into the desert. A sign proclaiming that it is 52 days to Timbuktu is one of the most photographed features of the town.

Tinfou: This small town is located along the Draa Valley route where the stony ground gives way to the sand-dunes of the desert.

Erg Chebbi: This settlement in the dunes of the Sahara offers basic tourist facilities for visitors exploring the enormous sand dunes.

Ouarzazate: Catering for the tourist trade, Ouarzazate has a number of hotels and visitors enjoy the typical Moroccan market in the city center. The Kasbah is beautifully preserved and gives in interesting glimpse into the lives of the people who live there.

Rissani: Also known as Tafilalt, a cluster of small villages around the town of Rissani, is located along the last stretch of the Ziz valley. The region has a long and fascinating history and was a kingdom separate from Morocco between the 8th and 14th centuries.

Merzouga: Located at the start of the oasis zone, inhabitants tap the underground water sources for drinking and irrigation purposes, and the area around the town is well cultivated.

Erfoud: This small oasis town is used by many travelers as a base for exploring the beautiful Ziz valley.

Popular activities in the Sahara include sunrise and sunset camel rides over the dunes, sleeping out under the desert skies, ATV/4X4 trips, visiting traditional Berber villages, dune-boarding,

Read more.

The Sahara desert of Morocco

The Sahara is the world's largest desert. Only a small part of the Sahara is fertile and it is here that corn, dates and other fruits grow. These parts are fed by underground rivers and oases. The Sahara can be an inspirational experience at night, with the air being crisp, clean and clear and the stars being so close you can almost touch them. The desert also has a deafening silence at night. The Sahara desert stretches across much of North Africa covering over 9 000 000 square kilometers (roughly the size of the United States). In fact, the Sahara covers some 30% of the entire African continent. It is the hottest place in the world with summer temperatures that often exceeds 57 degrees Celsius. It has an annual rainfall of 0 - 25 millimeters and is very windy with windstorms sweeping the sand up to heights of 1000 meters and moving the sand dunes constantly.

The Sahara consists of one quarter volcanic mountains, one quarter sand, rocks and gravel-covered plains and small areas of vast permanent vegetation. The vegetation includes shrubs, grasses, and trees in the highland and in the oases along the river beds. Some of the plants are well adjusted to the climate since they sprout within three days of rain and sow their seeds within two weeks after that.

Animals in the Sahara are mainly Gerbils, Cape Hare, Deer, Weasels, Baboons, Jackals, Sand Foxes, Mongooses, Desert Hedgehogs and over 300 bird species.

The following towns and villages are located in the Sahara of Morocco:

Tata: Located where the desert meets the mountains, this small desert town has the reputation for being the hottest town in Morocco.

Tleta Tagmout: A desert oasis

Foum Zguid: Located where the Jebel Bani range meets the desert, this charming desert town boasts one of the largest palm groves in Morocco.

Zagora: Located in the magnificent Drâa Valley, this town is a popular starting for camel excursions into the desert. A sign proclaiming that it is 52 days to Timbuktu is one of the most photographed features of the town.

Tinfou: This small town is located along the Draa Valley route where the stony ground gives way to the sand-dunes of the desert.

Erg Chebbi: This settlement in the dunes of the Sahara offers basic tourist facilities for visitors exploring the enormous sand dunes.

Ouarzazate: Catering for the tourist trade, Ouarzazate has a number of hotels and visitors enjoy the typical Moroccan market in the city center. The Kasbah is beautifully preserved and gives in interesting glimpse into the lives of the people who live there.

Rissani: Also known as Tafilalt, a cluster of small villages around the town of Rissani, is located along the last stretch of the Ziz valley. The region has a long and fascinating history and was a kingdom separate from Morocco between the 8th and 14th centuries.

Merzouga: Located at the start of the oasis zone, inhabitants tap the underground water sources for drinking and irrigation purposes, and the area around the town is well cultivated.

Erfoud: This small oasis town is used by many travelers as a base for exploring the beautiful Ziz valley.

Popular activities in the Sahara include sunrise and sunset camel rides over the dunes, sleeping out under the desert skies, ATV/4X4 trips, visiting traditional Berber villages, dune-boarding.

How to Sand Surf

Erg Chebbi, Morocco, Africa
Member

By plasticostrich

eHow Community Member

Do you want to surf the perfect wave, or the perfect sand dune? Some of the world's largest sand dunes have been attracting quite a crowd of enthusiastic sandboarders lately. Learning to sand surf is a lot like learning to surf, but even more like learning to snowboard.

One of the best sand surf hotspots is in Swakopmund, Namibia (Namib Desert, Africa). Rated as one of the highest dunes in the world, Dune 7 stands around 300 meters tall (980 feet). As such, it is the ultimate spot for sand surfing..


Whether you want to sand surf on vacation in Africa, or at any other sandy spot, you will need the following:


Difficulty: Moderate
Instructions
Things You'll Need:
• A board
• A desert

1. Step 1
Pick the right location. You need a desert to sand surf...a real desert.

The best place would be Namibia. Where in the world is Namibia? Well, maybe the name is unfamiliar to you because it was formerly known as South West Africa, a former German colony in the colonial years before World War 2. In more recent years, it was a protectorate of South Africa and since 1989 an independent democratic country. Besides the Namib desert, it also spots one of the world's best game reserves namely the Etosha National Park. To summarize, your sand surfing destination can be found just above South Africa, on the left against the West Coast of Africa.
2. Step 2
You need a standard snowboard. If you haven't mastered the technique of surfing yet, you may also use a sled, or a board made of a simple, flattened cardboard box. Basically, any flat board will do nicely when you sand surf.
3. Step 3
Technique is important if you want to sand surf and not get injured. If you fall off at high speed, you hit sand, and the landing can be a tumble downhill. It is also important to realize that the bottom edge of a dune may very well not curve out gently, but hit gravel at a steep angle. It may be a very quick stop at the bottom if you don't slow down as you descend.
4. Step 4
Check the condition of the sand. The weather plays an important role in prime sand surfing conditions. A bit of humidity (mist) will compact the sand enough so that it will provide for a more solid surfing experience. If the sand is to loose and warm, it will create a drum sound as you walk over it as the sand shifts. That is usually a bad sign.
5. Step 5
Pack suntan lotion and more suntan lotion. You simply can't pack enough suntan lotion and hats. Good sunglasses and enough water will make up the rest of your surfing gear. It's just good common sense.
6. Step 6
If you can manage it, rent a quad bike. Climbing up a sand dune with a board is a tiresome experience and can take you easily 30 minutes or more, depending how fit you are. Most dunes are quite steep, so it is more like climbing up than walking up. If the sand is compact, which is ideal, it is easier to walk up. On a hot day, you may just sink into the sand up your knees while trying to plow ahead up the dune. A nice addition to your trip may be a quad bike, to drive up the from the backside of the dune.

Enjoy your sand surfing!





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