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Another full day excursion out of Marrakech, this time south into the High Atlas Mountains and towards its highest peak - Jebel Toubkal (4167 meters or 13,661 feet). Morocco gets its power from many hydroelectric plants in the mountains. Today was the first and only dam and hydroelectric plant we saw on the trip. When the dam was built many villages had to relocate. The lake was very clean. There was no one else around - no boaters, bathers or campers. The guide said if we brought our bathing suits we would be allowed to swim. Now he tells us! Asni is about 50 miles south of Marrakech. It is the last town before hikers journey into the High Atlas Mountain to climb Jebel Toubkal. The town still has dirt streets and the usual donkey carts. As we proceeded further into the hills, there was a salt mine where we were allowed to walk around and hear how the salt is mined and processed. About 12 km south of Asni is the village of Ouirjwane village. This was our lunch stop at a local home but before that we had a great donkey ride into the hills around the village. We even stopped so Cris could help a women with her laundry. On the return to Marrakech was a new wide avenue where large new homes were being built. The prices for the homes were like back in the states - $250,000 to $400,000. |
