Imilchil

Imilchil
ⵉⵎⵉⵍⵛⵉⵍ
إملشيل
Imilchil

Location in Morocco

Coordinates: 32°9′18″N 5°38′5″W / 32.15500°N 5.63472°W / 32.15500; -5.63472Coordinates: 32°9′18″N 5°38′5″W / 32.15500°N 5.63472°W / 32.15500; -5.63472
Country  Morocco
Region Drâa-Tafilalet
Province Midelt
Elevation 6,952 ft (2,119 m)
Population
 • Total 1,858
Time zone WET (UTC+0)
 • Summer (DST) WEST (UTC+1)

Imilchil (Arabic: إملشيل‎, Tamazight: ⵉⵎⵉⵍⵛⵉⵍ) is a small town in Midelt Province of 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 ("white river"). The area of Imilchil is home to the Ait Hdiddou tribe, belonging to the Ait Yafelman confederation, and the inhabitants speak Central Atlas Tamazight. Some locations to visit are the caves of Akhiam, the Agouni waterfalls, the Ziz Gorges and Valley and the ksars of the area.[1]

Climate

Imilchil has a continental climate with Oceanic influence. Summers are moderately hot and winters are very cold and long. Night temperatures tend to be below freezing point for half of the year months. Summer usually starts in Juin and ends in late September. The average annual precipitations are above 400 mm but can reach up occasionally to 800 mm. Rainfall is distributed evenly throughout the year, although summer tends to have lower precipitations than average.

Climate data for Imilchil
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 9.2
(48.6)		 10.7
(51.3)		 13.6
(56.5)		 17.1
(62.8)		 20.7
(69.3)		 26.2
(79.2)		 32.4
(90.3)		 31.6
(88.9)		 25.8
(78.4)		 18.8
(65.8)		 12.9
(55.2)		 9.4
(48.9)		 19.03
(66.27)
Daily mean °C (°F) 2
(36)		 3.5
(38.3)		 6
(43)		 9.2
(48.6)		 12.3
(54.1)		 17.1
(62.8)		 22.2
(72)		 21.9
(71.4)		 17.1
(62.8)		 11.5
(52.7)		 6.1
(43)		 3
(37)		 10.99
(51.81)
Average low °C (°F) −5.1
(22.8)		 −3.7
(25.3)		 −1.5
(29.3)		 1.3
(34.3)		 3.9
(39)		 8.1
(46.6)		 12.1
(53.8)		 12.3
(54.1)		 8.4
(47.1)		 4.3
(39.7)		 −0.7
(30.7)		 −3.4
(25.9)		 3
(37.38)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 47
(1.85)		 46
(1.81)		 58
(2.28)		 52
(2.05)		 33
(1.3)		 15
(0.59)		 08
(0.31)		 11
(0.43)		 29
(1.14)		 51
(2.01)		 62
(2.44)		 62
(2.44)		 474
(18.65)
Source: [2]

Marriage Festival

The town of Imilchil represents a symbol of Berber culture, known for its festival, officially known as Betrothal Festival - the Souk Aamor Agdoud N'Oulmghenni. The legend goes that two young people from different tribes fell in love, but were forbidden to see each other by their families. The grief led them to cry themselves to death, creating the neighbouring lakes of Isli (his) and Tislit (hers) near Imilchil. The families decided to establish a day on the anniversary of the lovers' death - when members of local tribes could marry each other. Thus the Imilchil Marriage Festival was born.[3]

In reality, the region is a large scattering of tiny villages, and when young person needs to find a partner, they can't simply go and look for one, due to the conservative social norms. Thus, the festival allows for fathers to show their daughters and find husbands for them. When a woman accepts a man's proposal to marry, she says "You have captured my liver". (Tq massa n uchemt) Up to 40 couples take their vows on the same day. The festival is rich with music, dancing, feasts, and colorful clothing. The celebrations attracts many tourists to the area, and though contributing to local economy, there are fears that the rituals can be affected by the foreigners.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.imilchil.adrar.org/web/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=56&Itemid=35
  2. ↑ "climate-data". climate-data.org. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
  3. ↑ http://travelguides.lastminute.ie/sisp/?fx=event&event_id=30116

External links

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