Erfoud, Moroccan town in Errachidia Province, Drâa-Tafilalet
Erfoud is a small city in southeastern Morocco situated between hills and desert within the Tafilalet oasis region. The town features a simple grid layout with wide streets, surrounded by date palm groves and sand dunes, and serves as a natural starting point for Sahara explorations.
Erfoud was established as a military post during the French invasion and built along the Ziz River, which provides year-round water flow. The town later developed into a trade hub within the oasis, with distinctive red sandstone buildings that still characterize the cityscape today.
The name Erfoud derives from its role as a trading post in the Tafilalet oasis region. The town's character is shaped by its extensive date palm groves, where visitors can pick and taste fresh dates during harvest season, and by its weekly markets where local artisans sell fossil crafts and traditional goods.
The best time to visit is from October to April, when weather remains mild for outdoor activities like camel rides and desert exploration. Summer temperatures often exceed 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), making daytime sightseeing less comfortable.
The region is renowned worldwide for its marine fossils dating back approximately 500 million years, earning it the designation as the fossil capital. About 15 kilometers southeast of town, a quarry extracts black marble rich with fossils, while a small museum nearby displays these geological treasures.
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