Todra Gorge
Encyclopedia
Todra Gorge is a canyon in the eastern part of the High Atlas Mountains
in Morocco
, near the town of Tinerhir
. Both the Todra and neighbouring Dades River
s have carved out cliff-sided canyons (Arabic: wadi) on their final 40 kilometres (25 mi) through the mountains. The last 600 metres (1,969 ft) of the Todra gorge are the most spectacular. Here the canyon narrows to a flat stony track, in places as little as 10 metres (33 ft) wide, with sheer and smooth rock walls up to 160 metres (525 ft) high on each side.
The tiny glacier stream is something of a misfit, the river which once filled the gorge must have carried a lot more water. It is easy to hike in the gorge along a well-maintained paved road. The scenery is spectacular. Local people live in the area and can be seen with their small donkeys or herding camels and goats.
The area is no longer as remote as it once was. A well-maintained asphalt road leads up the valley from Tinerhir
to the gorge. A concrete road continues up the valley, past the hotels at the mouth of the gorge all the way to the villages of Aït Hani, Tamtatouchte, and Imilchil
.
Thanks to its robust rock sides with many uneven surfaces, Todra Gorge is popular among rock climbers. More than 150 routes rated French Grade 5+ to 8 have been bolted in the canyon.
The Todra Gorge was featured on the premiere of the United States
reality show Expedition Impossible
.
Atlas Mountains
The Atlas Mountains is a mountain range across a northern stretch of Africa extending about through Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. The highest peak is Toubkal, with an elevation of in southwestern Morocco. The Atlas ranges separate the Mediterranean and Atlantic coastlines from the Sahara Desert...
in Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
, near the town of Tinerhir
Tinerhir
Tinghir , located in south-eastern Morocco, south of the High Atlas and north of the Little Atlas, is part of the region of Ouarzazate.The name originally referred Tinghir the mountain "IGHIR" which meant the shoulder Tamazight, but it has gradually expanded to bring together all the villages...
. Both the Todra and neighbouring Dades River
Dadès River
Dadès River is a river in Morocco, located at .-Geography:The Dadès River rises in the High Atlas and then turns south crossing through the Dadès Gorge, then westward between the High Atlas and Anti-Atlas mountain ranges. The river finally meets the Ouarzazate River, which then enters Draa...
s have carved out cliff-sided canyons (Arabic: wadi) on their final 40 kilometres (25 mi) through the mountains. The last 600 metres (1,969 ft) of the Todra gorge are the most spectacular. Here the canyon narrows to a flat stony track, in places as little as 10 metres (33 ft) wide, with sheer and smooth rock walls up to 160 metres (525 ft) high on each side.
The tiny glacier stream is something of a misfit, the river which once filled the gorge must have carried a lot more water. It is easy to hike in the gorge along a well-maintained paved road. The scenery is spectacular. Local people live in the area and can be seen with their small donkeys or herding camels and goats.
The area is no longer as remote as it once was. A well-maintained asphalt road leads up the valley from Tinerhir
Tinerhir
Tinghir , located in south-eastern Morocco, south of the High Atlas and north of the Little Atlas, is part of the region of Ouarzazate.The name originally referred Tinghir the mountain "IGHIR" which meant the shoulder Tamazight, but it has gradually expanded to bring together all the villages...
to the gorge. A concrete road continues up the valley, past the hotels at the mouth of the gorge all the way to the villages of Aït Hani, Tamtatouchte, and Imilchil
Imilchil
Imilchil is a small town in central Morocco, in the Atlas Mountains with a population of about 1858. It is located at an elevation of 2119 m in the valley of Assif Melloul . The area of Imilchil is home to the Ait Hdiddou tribe, belonging to the Ait Yafelman confederation, and the inhabitants...
.
Thanks to its robust rock sides with many uneven surfaces, Todra Gorge is popular among rock climbers. More than 150 routes rated French Grade 5+ to 8 have been bolted in the canyon.
The Todra Gorge was featured on the premiere of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
reality show Expedition Impossible
Expedition Impossible (TV series)
Expedition Impossible is a 2011 American reality television series. The series follows thirteen teams of three competitors as they "solve problems while racing across deserts, over mountains and through rivers" across the nation of Morocco. The first team to cross the finish line after completing...
.