Dadès Gorges

A series of deep river canyons carved by the Dadès River in Morocco’s High Atlas Mountains, known for steep rock walls and winding routes.

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Dadès River: A river in Morocco’s High Atlas region that flows through the Dadès Gorges. Its flow cuts and continues to shape the canyon system.
Sedimentary rock: Rock formed from accumulated sediment, commonly layered and sometimes fossil-bearing. Sedimentary strata make up much of the gorge’s exposed rock landscape.
Road of a Thousand Kasbahs: A scenic route through southern Morocco known for historic fortified houses and dramatic landscapes. The route passes through the Dadès valley and links its mountain scenery with nearby settlements.
Todgha Gorge: A deep limestone canyon in Morocco’s eastern High Atlas, near Tinghir. It is a nearby, narrower canyon often compared with the broader Dadès scenery.
Fluvial incision: The downward cutting of a river into its bed by erosion. This process accounts for the gorges’ depth.
Limestone: A sedimentary rock composed mainly of calcium carbonate. Limestone beds contribute to the region’s steep cliffs and sculpted outcrops.
Tinghir: A town in southeastern Morocco near the Todgha Gorge and the southern High Atlas. It is a regional base for journeys between the Dadès and Todgha valleys.
Ziz Valley: A river valley in southeastern Morocco, extending from the High Atlas toward the Sahara. Its palm-filled oasis landscapes contrast with the steep, rocky Dadès canyon.
High Atlas: A mountain range in central Morocco, part of the Atlas Mountains. Regional uplift provides the steep terrain through which the Dadès River cuts.
Conglomerate: A sedimentary rock made of rounded gravel-sized clasts cemented together. Conglomerate layers appear in the surrounding valley and erode differently from finer beds.