About the early history of the place is little is known because of
the lack of written records. The spacious palm oases, however, make an
early settlement support (about 3000 BC) likely. Due to the growth of
the desert, the settlement is threatened since the 2nd half of the 20th
century by siltation, and the population is declining steadily. Until
the end of the 1980ies a special permit was required to enter the area
because it is close to the strategically important border with Algeria.
Even today, many soldiers stationed in the area of Mhamid.
Economics
The people of M'Hamid lived according to the principles of
self-sufficiency for hundred of years but due to reduced or even absent
winter rains since the 1970s agriculture provided and less income and
was abandoned almost entirely. In addition, a fungal disease (Fusarium
oxysporum) has significantly affected the date palms which were already
weakened by the drought.
In addition M'Hamid was always a center for traveling nomads and
caravans. Today the town is the starting point for tourist camel and 4x4 safaris into the desert.
Townscape
The original adobe buildings of M'Hamid are mostly dilapidated and
only a few mostly poor families live in those. In recent decades new
houses have been built in M'Hamid in the typical construction of the
Marrocan South on concrete floors with walls of hollow concrete blocks
which are painted bright red. Desert winds carry always masses of sand
in the city.
Surroundings
Hidden in the palm oases of M'Hamid are seven old, now almost uninhabited, and decaying Ksars. Approximaltel 50-60 kilometers away lie the sometimes more than 100 meters high sand dunes of Erg Chegaga, which are less often visited by tourists than those in Merzouga.
Location
City : Ouarzazate
GPS : 29°49′41″N 5°43′26″
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