Ain el Madiour

Ain el Madiour
small town
Country	Morocco
Region	Souss-Massa-Drâa
Province	Taroudant Province
Population  (2004)
• Total	9,000
Time zone	UTC+0 (WET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+1 (WEST)

Ain el Madiour (Arabic عين المديور ) is one of the douars on the outskirts of Taroudant city in the Souss-Massa-Draa region in Morocco. It is located at an altitude of 214 meters (702 feet) above sea level and within 569 kilometers (353 miles) south-west of the Moroccan capital Rabat. It is characterized by abundant citrus groves and other agrarian products plantations, as well as an strategic location in the middle of the highway that links Taroudant, the western and southern parts and the region's capital Agadir. Ain el Madiour is the administrative headquarter of Machraa El Ain commune.

Geographical location

Ain el Madiour is located in the northwestern part of the Souss-Massa-Draa region, Morocco, between Longitude "36.'24 0.30 degrees North and latitude" 0.'54 8 degrees West. And beween -8.9 and 3.40 decimal degrees.

It is bordered to the west with the villages Akfai, Sidi Abdellah Ou Said and Sidi Moussa Lhamri. On its northern side lies Sidi Blerahuzei, Oulad Halouf, Sidi Amara and Taroudant city. On the east Oulad Abbou, Oulad Rhhou, Oulad Teima, Tazemmourt and on the south Hafaia en Adar.

Topography

Ain el Madiour is located at an altitude of 214 meters (702 feet) above sea level in the Souss Massa Basin near Haouz plain on a bare land interspersed with hills and rocky sporadic bumps and side valleys notably Tefnut (Ousef Tefnut) on the east and Ousef Anofrao which lies in a distance of about 9 kilometers (6 miles), Ousef Amn Tacanut and Wadi Hawuar, which lies about 15 kilometers (9 miles) far away from Ein el Madiour. High Atlas mountains are located to the south and southeast of the town which forms water source fed by the melted ice and the precipitation of rain that streams from the mountain ranges to the wadis and other surface waters heading to the ocean. It also increases the bulk of groundwater and the fertility of soil in the area.

Temperatures

The climate in the region belongs to the continental climate, which is characterized by the high temperature and drought in the summer. The temperature reaches its peak in July and August, where more than 30 degrees Celsius on average reaching up to 45 degrees Celsius, which sometimes leads to dust storms when a cold air with moisture coming from Agadir in the west collides with the dry hot air of the semi desert region. During the winter months the temperature drops especially in the months of December and January where a record of less than 8 degrees Celsius has been recorded.

Precipitation of rain occurs in the winter season, especially in the month of December where it reaches to more than 60 millimeters (2.6 inches). February and March are also rainy months. Rainfall is always short on time and sharp, whereas abundant water from the mountains flows to the gullies and valleys causes flooding at the dry ground in a touching scene. There is no rain in the summer season.

The town's geographical location near the Atlas Mountain ranges promotes moist warm wind blowing from Wadi Souss valley and leads to the formation of a layer of ground fog in the morning which gradually disappear during the day hours followed by bright sunlight.

economy

Agriculture is the main economic sector in Ain el Madiour where a large part of the population works meeting domestic demand and export the surplus products to neighboring areas. The products consist of agricultural crops, vegetables and citrus fruits. The town boasts many blooming farms and estates where a large part of the local population labours. Another part of the population works in the local market or operates certain profession, hand labour and other crafts, especially in the field of construction and beekeeping.

Barely one can speak of industry in the village. There is an only one oil mill. Local weekly open -air markets, the so-called souk exist. One, a "Sunday Market" held in Taroudant city and another, "Saturday market» in El Guerdane. Both markets are located within a short distance of Ain el Madiour.