M'zab, Desert oasis in Ghardaïa Province, Algeria.
The M'zab Valley is an oasis settlement in the northern Sahara consisting of five fortified villages built from limestone with tightly packed houses. Each settlement is surrounded by palm groves and features traditional water channels that have supplied the communities for centuries.
The settlements were founded between the 11th and 14th centuries when a religious community moved into the Sahara to practice their faith. They built these villages strategically at water sources to survive in such a harsh environment.
The residents speak their own dialect and practice a distinct interpretation of Islam that shapes daily life and interactions in the marketplaces and streets. You'll notice their particular way of doing business and organizing community events differs from other desert settlements.
It's best to explore early in the morning when it's cooler and the villages feel most active. The narrow lanes between buildings are sometimes steep and uneven, so wear comfortable shoes and plan for slow-paced walking.
Each village has its mosque positioned at the highest point, visible from everywhere within the settlement. This design helped the community feel spiritually connected while serving as a practical landmark for the call to prayer.
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