The province of Guelmim
Since 2015, the province of Guelmim has been a predominantly rural vision of the region. Before the province was part of the Guelmim Es Smara region. It takes its name from the capital. A set of oases and palm groves are distributed throughout the geographical area of this province, including those of Asrir, Tighmert, Taghjirit and finally that of Ifrane Anti-Atlas. The province is composed of 2 municipalities and 18 rural communes
Municipalities:
Guelmim and Bouizakarne
Rural municipalities:
Abaynou, Aday, Aferkat, Ait Boufoulen, Amtoudi Asrir, Echtea El Abied, Fask, Ifrane Anti-Atlas, Labyar, Laksabi Tagoust, Ras Oumlil, Tagant, Taghjijt,
La Population en 2014: 186832 Habitants
Access
Marrakech – Guelmim 431 km
Agadir – Guelmim 200 km
Ouazarzate – Guelmim 546 km
Sidi Ifni – Guelmim 57 km
Tarfaya – Guelmim 342 km
Laâyoune _ Guelmim 441 km
Dakhla – Guelmim 969 km
Most important places
Guelmim
Also called the “Sahara Gate” is located 200 km south of Agadir and 130 km north of Tan-Tan. Once an essential stop on the caravan route to Timbuktu, the city has now become an important place of trade and exchange between the sedentary population and the nomads of the desert. Hassanya, the Saharawi language, is beginning to be widely spoken there. Agriculture and livestock farming are the main economic activity of the region.
Bouizakarn
The name in tamazight means “place of strings”. The city located at the foot of the Anti-Atlas, 160 km south of Agadir and 40 km from Guelmim, is the crossroads to go east towards Taghjlit, Akka, Tata, Foum Zguid and the large dunes of Chegaga or south towards Guelmim, Tan Tan, Dakhla and Lagouira. Former capital during the period of the French protectorate, Bouizakarn now has the largest grouping of military barracks in the region.
Ifrane Anti-Atlas
(Atlas Saghir) Le village, situé à 10 km de Timoulay sur la route de Tafraout, connaissait l’une de présence juives la plus importante, vieille de plus de 2300 ans du Sud Maroc. A l’époque le village avait même été nommé Petit Jérusalem.
On peut encore voir au bord de l’oued les ruines de la Mellah, qui héberge ait 600 personnes. A ce jour il y a toujours des nécropoles et des grottes qui ne sont pas explores. Aujourd’hui les activités principales sont le commerce, l’agriculture, surtout celle de l’olivier et des dates et l’élevage des caprins.
History and culture
The origin of the name would be “Aguelmin” which is an Amazigh word that means “presence of water” this water that was used for trans-Saharan caravans. The creation of the city is linked to trade, which is a deeply rooted activity in the Oued Noun valley and dates back to the Middle Ages.
Craft
The province of Guelmin is known for its crafts that reflect the customs and traditions of the inhabitants of the region. Thus the dominant sectors are: Jewellery, the use of precious metals is the result of traditions and very old techniques
Traditional leather goods in the Province of Guelmim allow the manufacture and ornamentation of articles based on goat skins appreciated and used for their flexibility Wood, artisanal woodwork allows the manufacture from ajdari wood or acacia (talh) of utilitarian tools and decorative objects.
La couture traditionnelle, un soin particulier, une habileté et la patience sot les atouts nécessaires pour la pratique de cet art qui confère éclats et chaleur aux objets et produits les plus familiers dans la région.