M'HAMID
M'Hamid El Ghizlane formerly named Targala and by media error taragalt, is a commune rural Moroccan woman of the Zagora provincein the Drâa-Tafilalet region, on the edge of the Sahara, on the Algerian-Moroccan border.
Its territory, which was once a stopover on the trans-Saharan tradehas become a tourist area, notably the starting point for excursions into the desert, in particular to the dunes of theerg Chegaga. Its name is thought to mean "the plain of the gazelles", it is possible to observe gazelles in their natural environment.
It is part of a nomadism at an altitude of around 500 metres. ma oasiswith a palm grove extending as far as the oued Draa.
history
The ksar of M'hamid dates back to the period saadienneThe ksar was located in the last inhabitable area before sinking into the totally nomadic and uninhabited regions. The ksar of M'hamid was described by the famous explorer René Caillié in his book about his trip to Timbuktu in 1830.
M'Hamid is located in the Drâa Valley, an ancient caravan route between the Sahara and northern Morocco that attracted people from many different backgrounds, resulting in a considerable ethnic mix and a highly diverse and hierarchical socio-ethnic structure. :
- the Draouas (black population), supposed to be the indigenous people
- Saharan Moorish tribes (Aârib)
- tribes from the north (Aït Sedrate)
- the former nomadic members of the berber confederation Aït Atta
- sacrosanct communities (Chorfas and Morabitines)
- the Jews
The culture of cereals and thehorticulture are practised in mixed gardens, in the palm grovecovering 16 km long and 2,700 km2.
At the same time, there is a tourist industry: M'Hamid El Ghizlane is the starting point for excursions to Erg Lehoudi, 12 km from the town. km to the north, which can be reached by road, and Erg Chegaga to the south, almost 60 km away. kmaccessible by foot (trekking), camel or 4X4. .
