Situated in northwest Africa, Morocco looks and feels anything but African. The country has the cultural vibes of a Middle Eastern country and indeed, has long been imagined as the land of the Arabian Nights. Geographically, Morocco is somewhat akin to a Mediterranean state, being bounded to the west by the Atlantic ocean and to the north by Spain, separated very thinly by the Straits of Gibraltar. But head interior and the resemblance ends. As you traverse to the center of Morocco, you come face to face with the rugged Atlas Mountains soaring to a peak of over 13000 feet. To the south looms the vast and arid Western Sahara, a reminder that Morocco is a country that defies easy classification.
Here are stunning images of this heady country, captured by landscape and street photographers.
A camel caravan tramping through the shimmering golden sands of Erg Chebbi, a vast expanse of sand dunes located near the Algerian border. Life is tough out here in this remote area of the Western Sahara, and the people who live here work hard to survive in the incredibly harsh conditions. Photo: Brook Rushton.Merzouga, gateway to Erg Chebbi.The city of Chefchaouen in northwest Morocco is also known as the “Blue Pearl ” of Morocco. Perched high in the Rif Mountains, it stood as a remote outpost for Berber tribes for hundreds of years and remained relatively unknown until the 1800s. Photo: Stuart Kenny.Old man taking a rest in one of the myriad blue alleys within city of Chefchaouen. Photo: Brook Rushton. If those walls could speak … Photo: Brook Rushton. Cat nap, Chefchaouen, Morocco. Photo: Brook Rushton.Colorful rugs line the streets of an ascending staircase in Chefchaouen, Morocco.Located in the stunning Ounia Valley in southeastern Morocco along one of the main trans-Saharan trade routes the village of Aït Ben Haddou is one of the last staging posts before the Tizi n’Tichka pass; one of the few passes through the Mountains. Photo: Sara Zouten.Ait Ben Haddou’s captivating architecture and landscapes have served as picturesque backdrops for scenes in numerous iconic TV s and movies. Here is view of the ancient fort (kasbah) which was the set the 2000 film, Gladiator. A man from the Berber tribe praying in the Sahara desert. Originally from North Africa, the Berber people are distributed in an area stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the Siwa Oasis in Egypt, and from the Mediterranean Sea to the Niger River. In Morocco, Ait Ben Haddou is a town that is predominantly Berber. They are killed nomads of the Sahara desert, possessing a deep understanding of camel husbandry. Ryan McCarrel.A local Berber woman by the banks of a river in Ait Ben Haddou, her weather-worn face telling a personal narrative of life in a harsh yet incredibly beautiful place. Photo: Brook Rushton.Fez (or Fes) in northern Morocco is the country’s second largest city after Marrakesh and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is one of the most preserved old cities in the Arab world and home to the most elaborate medina (old part of a city) you’ll find anywhere. While it does attract tourists, the old city contains a very local feeling where people still live and work within its ancient walls the way they might in ages past. Photo: Vince Gx.Selling chickens in the Fez market. Photo: DayangchiA spice seller in one of the thousands of stalls in the ancient city of Fez. Photo: Bob Drogin. Marrakech, the fabled Red City that has been romanticized in art and literature. The city really is red (at least its medina or old part of town is). Constructed between 1070 and 1072, during the rule of the Almoravid dynasty, the buildings and ramparts in the medina were mostly made from pinkish beaten clay. Although the materials have changed over the centuries, the local people continued to paint their buildings in the signature pinkish color, thus cementing the Red City (or Rose City) nickname for good.Marrakesh’s heady sights and sounds are enchanting from day to night, living up to its image as the city most associated with the Arabian nights. By day, the souks (open markets) are filled with local handicrafts, fashion and homewares in a bustling that has a distinctly nomadic feel. Everything from pottery and leather goods to carpet and jewelry, can be purchased and traded in the souks.A coppersmith at work in the belly of a souk in Marrakech in a scene that has been largely unchanged for centuries.The distinct old-world charm of many alleys tucked within Marrakech’s medina.At night, Marrakech’s main square, Djemaa El Fna (pronounced “jema” – the “d” is silent), unfolds more drama as food sellers, itinerant musicians and snake charmers congregate to present a street theater, one that have been non-stop here since the 11th century. The show doesn’t really kick off until sunset when restaurants fire up their grills, cueing musicians to tune up their instruments.A walk on the wild side. Around 90 kilometers separate Marrakech from Imlil, a Berber village at the foot of the Atlas Mountains and gateway to Toubkal (13671 feet), the highest summit in North Africa. A spectacular view of the snow-capped Atlas mountain range from Imlil.
WATCH A road trip through Morocco, starting from Fez, winding west to the coastal town of Casablanca, then southward to Marrakech and the edge of the Sahara desert. Video credits: Firdaus Hashim.
