Dakhla, Morocco


Dakhla, Morocco





Dakhla is a small town around 1000km south of Essaouira, located on a 48km long and 4km wide peninsula which stretches into the Atlantic Ocean, creating a huge lagoon.

Dakhla was founded in 1502 by Spanish settlers during the expansion of their Empire. The Spanish interest in Western Africa in desert coast of Sahara was the result of fishing activities carried out from the nearby Canary Islands by Spanish fishers and the Barbary pirates menace.
Spaniard fishers were seal fur traders and hunters, fishers and whalers in Sahara coast from Dakhla to Cabo Blanco from 1500 to present, extending by West coast of Africa to whaling humpback whales and whale calves, mostly in Cape Verde, and Guinea gulf in Annobon, São Tomé and Príncipe islands just to 1940. These fishing activities have had a negative impact on wildlife causing the disappearance or endangered of many species, it highlighting marine mammals and birds.

They established whaling stations with some cod fishing and trading. In 1881, a dock was anchored off the coast of the Río de Oro Peninsula to support the work of the Canarian fishing fleet.
However, it was not until 1884 that Spain refounded formally the watering place as Villa Cisneros, in the settlement dated in 1502 by papal bull. It was included in the enclaves conceded to the Spanish at east of the Azores islands. In 1884, the settlement was promoted by the Spanish Society of Africanists and funded by the government of Canovas del Castillo. The military and Spanish Arabist Emilio Bonelli recognized the coast between Cape Bojador and Cabo Blanco, founding three settlements in the Saharan coast: one in Villa Cisneros in honor of cardinal Francisco Jiménez de Cisneros, another in Cabo Blanco for seal hunting, which gave the name of Medina Gatell, and another in Angra de Cintra with the name of Puerto Badia, in honor of the Arabist and adventurer Domingo Badia. Bonelli got the native inhabitants of the peninsula de Río de Oro signed an agreement which placing them under the protection of Spain. Thanks to the presence of the three seatlements in December that year The Spanish government put in communication of the Collonial Powers assembled at the Berlin conference, which was adjudged possession of the territory lying between Cape Bojador and Blanco.

During the colonial period, the Spanish authorities made Dakhla the capital of the province of Río de Oro, one of the two regions of what was known as Spanish Sahara. They built a military fortress and a modern Catholic church, both of which remain points of interest for visitors to the city. A prison camp also existed here during the Spanish Civil War, at which writers such as Pedro García Cabrera were imprisoned.
During the 1960s, the Francoist dictatorship also built here one of the three paved airports in Western Sahara at Dakhla Airport. Between 1975 and 1979, Dakhla was the province capital of the Mauritanian province of Tiris al-Gharbiyya, as Mauritania annexed portion of Western Sahara. Dakhla Airport is used as public airport and by the Royal Air Maroc. The 3 km. long runway can receive a Boeing 737 or smaller planes. The passenger terminal covers 670 m² and is capable to handle up to 55,000 passenger/year.
The main economic activity of the city is fishing and tourism. In recent years the town has become a centre for aquatic sports, such as kitesurfing, windsurfing and surf casting.

The location of our brand new Club Mistral & Skyriders center is on the north-eastern coast of that peninsula.
The huge sandy lagoon provides fantastic conditions with constant winds throughout the whole year, flat water and more than enough space.
Beginners, professionals and everybody else will find kitesurfing at its best here. As an added bonus the other side of the peninsula offers perfect wave conditions which can be reached within no time by car.

Apart from kitesurfing there are many other activities which will make your stay an active and diverse one – at Club Mistral & Skyriders Dakhla you can be sure to have a fantastic holiday in an untouched environment far away from mass tourism.
Dakhla is a diamond in the rough, a new born kitesurfing mecca which you won´t find a second time in the whole wide world.


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General info about Morocco



General info about Morocco

Marrakech lies on a plain between the Middle and High Atlas mountains. It is one big oasis in a desertlike landscape. We have seen mainly palmtrees (dades) and olive trees, but also orange trees and cactusses. Except for a lot of birds we have seen some exotic animals on Jemaa el Fna square (snakes, monkeys) but they live in captivity.
Click for more information about the flora and fauna in Morocco.
In 788, about a century after the Arab conquest of North Africa, successive Moorish dynasties began to rule in Morocco. In the 16th century, the Sa'adi monarchy, particularly under Ahmad AL-MANSUR (1578-1603), repelled foreign invaders and inaugurated a golden age. In 1860, Spain occupied northern Morocco and ushered in a half century of trade rivalry among European powers that saw Morocco's sovereignty steadily erode; in 1912, the French imposed a protectorate over the country. A protracted independence struggle with France ended successfully in 1956. The internationalized city of Tangier and most Spanish possessions were turned over to the new country that same year. Morocco virtually annexed Western Sahara during the late 1970s, but final resolution on the status of the territory remains unresolved. Gradual political reforms in the 1990s resulted in the establishment of a bicameral legislature, which first met in 1997. The country has made improvements in human rights under King MOHAMMED VI and its press is moderately free. Despite the continuing reforms, ultimate authority remains in the hands of the monarch.
Morocco has a subtropical climate, tempered by oceanic influences that give the coastal regions moderate temperatures. Toward the interior, winters are colder and summers warmer, a more continental climate. At high altitudes temperatures of less than -17.8° C (0° F) are not uncommon, and mountain peaks are covered with snow during most of the year.


Rain falls mainly between November and April. Precipitation is heaviest in the northwest and lightest in the east and south. The last few years there almost has been no rain in the south and east of Morocco.
The warmest month in Marrakech is August, with temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius. We visited in September and at day it was between 32 and 40 degrees, at night between 24 and 29 degrees.
Morocco is surrounded by the Mediterranean in the north, the Atlantic Ocean in the west, Algeria in the east and Mauretania in the south. There are two mountain ranges in Morocco: the Rif Mountains and the Atlas. The Rif lies parallel to the Mediterranean coast, it's highest peak being the Tidirhine (2,456 m). It is an inaccesible range with a lot of erosion. The Atlas consists of the Middle Atlas (the northwestern range) and the High Atlas which is connected to the southern range, the Anti-Atlas. In the High Atlas, which separates the Atlantic coast from the Sahara, lies the highest peak of North Africa (Djebel Toubkal, 4,165 m). The greater part of the population lives on the fertile plains along the coast. South and east of the Atlas Mountains are dry steppes and deserts.

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Morocco Travel - A brief overview


Morocco Travel - A brief overview

Surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean in the west, the Mediterranean coast in the north and the endless expanses of the Sahara desert in the south lies the Kingdom of Morocco in northwest Africa. As the geographical limits of the desert, the Atlas serves, a great mountain range that runs through the country from southwest to north east almost completely. The highest elevation in the Atlas is the Djebel Toubkal, 4,200 meters high, just south of the city of Marrakech situated. The atlas also ensures the water supply of the whole country, the peaks in the winter months, usually covered by snow,. The water is then used after thawing for irrigation Crossing the country from the capital Rabat to the east, you meet on fertile landscapes, dense cork forests and impressive rock formations. In addition to the large coastal cities in Agadir , Casablanca , Rabat and Tangier are also in the inland cities were of considerable size, such as Fez and Meknes . These centers represent the modern day Morocco and combine western lifestyle with Arab tradition. In the mountainous regions of the Atlas, however, lives the original Morocco - small nomadic tribes who live on the other livestock and from trading in carpets and traditional handicrafts.

Morocco - A valley in the Atlas Mountains


South of the Atlas finally starts the Moroccan desert, which in turn forms part of the Sahara desert. She acted in the past as a bridge between Europe and Africa and was therefore covered by numerous trade routes. The outskirts of the desert are lined with large palm oasis with lush vegetation and provide a wonderful backdrop for vacationers. head of Morocco's King Mohammed VI in 1999, eldest son of King Hassan II, who died in the same year, suddenly and unexpectedly. . The new young king is very popular with his people and is committed to the democratization of the country and to strengthen the rights of women nevertheless determined the religion - Islam - still a large part of the lives of Moroccans. Ramadan is strictly observed, as a rule, made ​​pilgrimages to Mecca and the daily prayers must not be missing for most Moroccans. A great holiday is the Feast of Sacrifice "Aid el-Kebir," which reminds us of the goodness of God who allowed Abraham to sacrifice him to a ram instead of his son. The festival is held annually in December and enchants its visitors with happy, singing and dancing people roaming the streets and houses. The culinary highlight is the hard one - no one shall suffer hunger on this day, therefore the delicious dishes interspersed with each other. For travelers, Morocco is a paradise. Whether beach holiday on the mile-long sandy beaches, or Morocco tours with ever-changing attractions. Here in Morocco, everyone finds their dream vacation. Spend your vacation in Morocco - a land of history, style, and many fascinating faces!


Holidays in Morocco

Make holiday in Morocco? I only go away - that is to say that many a. Too large, the prejudice against an Islamic holiday destination. Why is it just a very modern Islamic state, Morocco, in which religion is lived though - they are nevertheless open to Western culture.

220,000 German tourists spent a holiday in Morocco in 2012. That is 80,000 more visitors than they did seven years ago. The trend is upward and stops, and the dawn of the "Arab Spring" has not changed anything. Besides the typical Badeurlauben in the seaside resorts on the Atlantic coast and the Mediterranean, especially Morocco tours are always popular.

Portuguese-Ramparts-on-Water-Essaouira


The tourist infrastructure is very good. Hotels and Riyadh `s are available in various categories from luxury accommodation to simple accommodation option is to find everything.

Many hotels offer water sports are offered in addition to the typical and extensive spa treatments.

Spa & Thalasso therapy, or even a visit to a traditional hammam, massages and relaxing - just try it once.

Who leaves his hotel complex once may plunge into the magic of 1001 when he strolls in picturesque old towns with winding streets, where you can marvel at ancient crafts preserved. The smells of the markets in which not only spices with all other possible trades are indescribable.

Morocco does a lot for tourism. The population is informed about the "right" deal with tourists, it stops to cleanliness in the towns.

Morocco opens up the original, especially the one who chooses for his vacation a trip around Morocco. But even in the mountainous hinterland of Morocco brings some of the growing tourism modernity, and especially new sources of revenue for the Berbers who live here.

Morocco has many faces - but once they get to know your Morocco holiday.


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