Agdz

Agdz Agdez / ⴰⴳⴷⴻⵣ / أگدز
Draa River in Agdz
Agdz Location in Morocco
Coordinates:
Country	Morocco
Region	Souss-Massa-Drâa

File:Agdz Dar Chebab.jpg

Dar Chebab Mohamed Ezzarktouni in Agdz

Agdz (Berber: Agdez, Arabic: أگدز‎‎) is a town in mid-southeastern Morocco, in the Atlas Mountains with a population of about 10,000. It is located at around . Agdz lies at the feet of Djebel Kissane and along the shores of the Draa River.

Geography

Agdz is located about 65 km south of Ouarzazate, 92 km north of Zagora. Agdz which means "resting place" is located on the old caravan route linking Marrakech to Timbuktu. Agdz long played an important economic role.

In geographic terms, the most predominant feature of Agdz is Jebel Kissane which is in the middle of the Draa Valley to the east of Agdz. Kissane means "glasses" in Arabic and the jebel is so named because it looks like glasses of tea behind a tea pot.

History

The years of 1970 and 1980 were hard on the agricultural sector due to droughts.

Local institutions

The weekly outdoor market (souk) is held on Thursdays across the bridge from the city center.

Dar Chebab (Youth Center) Mohamed Ezzarktouni is the main youth center in Agdz operated by the Moroccan Ministry of Youth and Sports. Along with a variety of clubs and organizations, the Agdz Media Club was started in December 2012.

There are many associations in Agdz that perform a wide range of civic duties. The Agdz Association for the Development and Protection of the Environment was founded on May 29, 1999 and includes The University Students Club which is made up of students from the Agdz area who are currently studying at universities in Morocco such as Marrakech, Agadir, and Ouarzazate. The University Students Club organized a Book Fair and Cultural Celebration from January 29 to February 1, 2013 which was held at Dar Chebab Mohamed Ezzarktouni.

Agdz has two football (soccer) clubs.

Features

File:Jebel Kissane.jpg Summer solstice 20 June 2012 looking east at Jebel Kissane in Agdz

File:Djebel kissane agdz.jpg View of Jebel Kissane

File:Agdz Football (soccer) match.jpg Agdz has two football (soccer) clubs)

External links

• Moroccan Ministry of Youth and Sports
• Lexicorient