Ouzoud Waterfalls in the Grand Atlas

Ouzoud Waterfalls in Morocco
































Beautiful Ouzoud Waterfalls is located in the Grand Atlas Mountain range in central Morocco about 90 miles northeast of Marrakesh. It is quite famous in Morocco and one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world as the water tumbles some 360 lovely and amazing feet through lush greenery.
Victoria Falls is the most famous waterfall in Africa but Ouzoud Falls might just be the prettiest waterfall in all of Africa. It is certainly the most beautiful waterfall in Northern Africa and is a very popular tourist destination for those visiting Morocco.

The word ouzoud means "olive" in the Berber language and there are many olive trees right around Ouzoud Waterfalls. At the bottom of the falls are old mills a few of which are still in use by locals. One can even take a swim in the water at the bottom of the Ouzoud Falls if one is so inclined and boat rides are available on the river below that take visitors near the falls and provide spectacular views of the falls. Efforts are continuing in Morocco to permanently preserve and protect this beautiful Moroccan wonder.

ouzoudStarting from Marrakesh, a day’s visit to the famous Ouzoud waterfalls of about 100 metres in height and which constitute one of the most spectacular natural beauty spots in Morocco. It is about a three hour drive to get there. The surrounding countryside offers red cliffs, oleander and doves and, if you are lucky, you will catch a glimpse of some Barbary apes. Bird-watchers will enjoy a trip to the waterfalls, too as will walkers who can enjoy the area at any time of year, except perhaps the hottest summer months of July and August. There are plenty of places to have lunch with a view over the waterfalls from their terraces. And a short walk will bring you to the top of the falls from where you can look down at their full magnificence and at the river.




Most tourists do not associate waterfalls with Morocco a country with a population of 32 million and 173,000 square miles. But the interior of Morocco is split by the Atlas Mountains and numerous valleys in and around the mountains which contain many waterfalls especially during the Spring runoff. Ouzoud Falls is by far the most spectacular of these waterfalls and the most visited. It flows all year long and is particularly amazing in the Spring or after decent to heavy rainfall.

Tourism plays a large role in Morocco's economy but Ouzoud Waterfalls is probably underutilized from this standpoint. The waterfalls here are special and spectacular the country could probably lure tourists here just to visit Ouzoud Falls. All the tourist guides put out by the Moroccan Government should contain at least one photo of the Ouzoud Waterfalls. Other great tourist attractions in Morocco include the Roman ruins at Volubilis, the great sand dunes at Erg Chebbi, Atlas Studios which is the largest film studio in the world, the King Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca which is built right over the Atlantic Ocean and the souks or spice markets of Marrakesh. Ouzoud Waterfalls is just as special as any of these national treasures.

Ouzoud Falls is such a special natural wonder that it is in the running in the New7Wonders of Nature contest run by the New7Wonders Foundation in which anybody can vote online for their favorite wonders of nature anywhere in the world. Ouzoud Falls will probably not be selected as one of the seven natural wonders but it will certainly be in the running and has my vote as well as the votes of many of the tourists who have visited this lovely special African waterfall.


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