Things to do · Ouarzazate
Just east of Ouarzazate, the El Mansour Eddahbi dam holds back the Drâa river to form a broad reservoir that is the lifeline of the surrounding oases. Built in the 1970s to store water for irrigation and supply, the lake spreads across the arid plateau with the High Atlas rising behind it — an unexpected sheet of open water in the desert. It draws migratory birds, makes a calm sunset stop close to town and offers a quiet contrast to the kasbahs and film studios. Here is what to know before you go.
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A large reservoir created by the El Mansour Eddahbi dam on the Drâa river, a short drive east of Ouarzazate. The dam stores seasonal flow from the High Atlas to irrigate the palm groves downstream toward the Drâa valley and to supply the region — so water levels rise and fall noticeably with the season and recent rainfall.
The dam dates from the 1970s and was built to regulate the Drâa, store water for agriculture and help supply the growing town. Like many Moroccan reservoirs it underpins the oases downstream; check current details locally, as the dam itself is infrastructure and close access can be restricted.
The lake's appeal is the simple drama of wide blue water set against bare, ochre hills, with the snow-dusted High Atlas often visible to the north in the cooler months. It is a striking, almost surreal sight in a landscape otherwise defined by stone and palm.
As one of the few large bodies of water in the region, the reservoir draws migratory and water birds, and is known among birders as a stop worth scanning. Numbers and species vary with the season and water level, so bring binoculars and patience rather than firm expectations.
Low light is the lake's best hour: at dawn and dusk the water mirrors the warm hills and big desert sky. The open eastern and western horizons mean both sunrise reflections and sunset colour are easy to catch from the shore.
Because it lies just outside Ouarzazate, the lake makes an easy add-on to a day in town rather than a destination in itself. Many travellers pair it with the Taourirt Kasbah and the film studios, or fold it into a 4x4 outing toward the Fint Oasis or the Drâa road.
The reservoir sits a short drive east of Ouarzazate off the road toward the Dadès and Tinghir. A taxi, hire car or organised excursion all work; some shoreline points are reached by short unpaved tracks, so a local driver helps you find the better viewpoints.
Spring and autumn are the most comfortable, with milder temperatures and often higher, fuller water after winter rains. Summer middays are very hot and exposed, so aim for early morning or late afternoon. Levels can drop in dry years, which changes the look of the shoreline.
There is little shade or infrastructure on the shore, so carry water, sun protection and a hat. Binoculars are worthwhile for the birdlife, and sturdy shoes help on the stony, uneven banks. Take any litter away with you, as the area is open and unmanaged.
The lake is the head of the system that feeds the great palm groves downstream, so it makes a fitting first stop before following the Drâa toward Agdz and Zagora. Seeing the reservoir first helps make sense of how the oases far to the south are watered.
It is a large reservoir just east of Ouarzazate, formed by the El Mansour Eddahbi dam on the Drâa river. Built in the 1970s, it stores water from the High Atlas to irrigate the oases downstream and supply the region, and is one of the few big bodies of open water in this part of the desert.
For its scenery, birdlife and quiet it can be a rewarding short stop, especially at sunrise or sunset, rather than a major attraction in its own right. Most travellers visit it as an add-on to a day in town with the kasbahs and film studios, or as part of a 4x4 outing.
Yes. As a rare large wetland in an arid region, the lake attracts migratory and water birds and is known to birdwatchers, though the species and numbers vary with the season and water level. Bring binoculars and scan the shoreline and open water.
It lies a short drive east of town off the road toward the Dadès and Tinghir. A taxi, hire car or organised excursion all work; some shoreline viewpoints are reached by short unpaved tracks, so a local driver can help you find the best spots.
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