Google Cloud Speech-to-Text API (Chirp) + Gemini 2.5 Flash Non-Thinking. Treat it as a searchable index of what was broadcast, not a quotation record.
00:03:25channel. Goodbye.
00:03:39offers you today
00:03:43When is day equal
00:04:08The people of the region describe
00:10:33with the clear natural interweaving between water and mountain,
00:10:37the dean of all environmental systems on Earth,
00:10:40and thus the spatial character of the Midelt region
00:10:44has evolved with data
00:10:47and inexhaustible
00:10:49bounties.
00:10:57unique area and its urban center,
00:11:00lives to the rhythm of a peaceful life between its overflowing
00:11:04rivers and its towering
00:11:07magnificent
00:11:08Atlantic valley.
00:11:13The harmony of this natural mountain heritage is essential
00:11:16for understanding environments and their resources and the extent of their diversity
00:11:19and richness, and the minerals and plants
00:11:23make it attract adventurers. Researchers seeking
00:11:26serene places and their beauty and strolling
00:11:30in the heart of its
00:11:31charming nature.
00:11:34However, Midelt has not yet received enough publicity
00:11:38and promotion for its natural and touristic potential,
00:11:41which is a jewel. This imbalance has limited its
00:11:45attainment of its rightful place and transformed it into
00:11:48a mere temporary transit station instead of being a destination
00:11:52in itself and a primary station for recreation.
00:12:25enabled the creation of tourist routes and strategic
00:12:28points in the Atlas and on Mount
00:12:32Ayachi.
00:12:36Here, between water and mountain, exploration takes
00:12:39on an exceptional dimension, and the natural richness invites
00:12:43a unique tourist experience where a huge,
00:12:46enormous mountain accompanies the visitor throughout
00:12:49his journey, harvesting fog when it covers it
00:12:53from its atmospheric surroundings and turning it into flowing water and solid
00:12:57ice. It is the secret of the region's existence and the pillar
00:13:00of its driving force for its water and its economy.
00:13:03It is called the monster of the Moroccan mountains, Mount Ayachi.
00:14:14The visitor lingers in contemplation of the beauty of the natural landscapes
00:14:17of the Midelt region and is stopped by the sight of Mount
00:14:21Ayachi and its majestic peaks.
00:14:33this mountain when snow covers its peaks by saying that Ayachi
00:14:37has put on his turban, and when snow covers it completely,
00:14:41they express their view of it by saying that Ayachi has put
00:14:45on his burnous.
00:14:48It was the beginning of winter when it descended on Midelt,
00:14:51but the successive drought
00:14:55forced Ayachi to take off his white burnous for periods
00:15:00recent
00:15:02mountain, which appears from afar towering, less than
00:15:0635 kilometers from Midelt, is more massive than
00:15:09it appears to the eye and more than it seems to be
00:15:13a mere simple backdrop behind this civilized
00:15:17urban center.
00:15:23Throughout our stay in the Midelt region, the dream of reaching
00:15:27the summit of this mountain constantly
00:15:29haunted us. What we were told about the possibility
00:15:33of a road leading to its summit by car increased
00:15:37our determination to climb its heights
00:15:39and reach its highest
00:15:43levels. In an attempt to verify this information,
00:15:46we decided, after investigation, to climb the mountain in a four-wheel
00:15:51off-road capability and maneuverability as much as
00:15:57we had to go to the village of Taarart, from which
00:16:00it would be easier to find an access route to the top.
00:16:03And we were trapped.
00:16:08At an altitude of approximately 2300 meters above sea level,
00:16:12the village of Taarart, administratively belonging to the
00:16:15Agoudim commune under the leadership of Tounfite in the
00:16:17Midelt province, is located. Its location in the heart of the mountain
00:16:21and its proximity to the passes and openings between the highlands made
00:16:25it a historical strategic passage whose paths lead to the meeting
00:16:28point of trade caravans in Tafilalt, the Kasbahs of Outat and the upper
00:16:32Moulouya.
00:16:38The Tissart Valley separates the old part of the village,
00:16:41which was settled by the Aït Ayache tribes long ago, from a part of
00:16:45houses on the right bank of the valley, which was
00:16:48settled by the Aït Moussa and Hadou tribes after a large
00:16:51segment of the Aït Ayache tribes migrated to the suburbs
00:16:55of Fez in the late
00:16:5619th century.
00:17:05Around the village of Taarart are meadows and summer pastures rich
00:17:08in grass and fodder. The grazing season there begins
00:17:11from May until mid-September, when
00:17:15the nomadic season resumes towards warmer
00:17:18and wetter pastures. Despite the successive
00:17:21years of drought, the region has benefited and continues
00:17:25to benefit from its proximity to the sources of the Oued Moulouya in Mount
00:17:28Ayachi and from the waters of its springs that flow
00:17:31freely from between its rocks and under the beds
00:17:34of its wadis.
00:17:39According to local narratives, this charming nature was
00:17:42attractive until recently, and traders loaded
00:17:46with various goods used to flock to it, setting up their tents
00:17:50in the vast plains of Agadir Aaraat to sell
00:17:53their merchandise and exchange
00:17:54goods with local traders.
00:17:59Beautiful, its traditional houses' surfaces blend
00:18:03harmoniously with the rugged terrain surrounding
00:18:05them, creating a
00:18:07picturesque scene of peaceful rural life flowing
00:18:11through a pure environment, whose remoteness preserves its prestige.
00:18:30The ancient buildings are still relatively resilient, resisting
00:18:33the repercussions and effects of weather fluctuations, and they house residents.
00:19:58After a short break at Taarart, during which
00:20:02we gathered our thoughts, we headed towards
00:20:06exploring the unknowns of this vast
00:20:07mountain range.
00:20:10This mountain is known for its
00:20:14events that Morocco has known, and it has effectively contributed
00:20:17to the formation of the most important historical paths of Morocco during
00:20:21many eras and ages.
00:20:24Its history has been linked to the villages located between its valleys, such as
00:20:27Taarart, Ighrem Aqob,
00:20:31Tazrout, Touroute, and other such fortified
00:20:34Atlas villages.
00:20:39Historical sources describe Mount Ayachi as a strong fortress
00:20:43based on what it represented as
00:20:45tribes, especially the Drazen tribe with all its factions,
00:20:49and Rawwan and other neighboring tribes during periods
00:20:52of unrest.
00:20:56In ancient times, the mountain was locally called Dadrat, and it was also known
00:21:00as Ari Ayachi. The word Ari
00:21:03in the Amazigh language of the region
00:21:06mountain. Its name Ayachi
00:21:10is attributed, according to the most likely opinions, to the Aït Ayache
00:21:13tribe, which settled its southern and northern slopes in a distant
00:21:17and unknown past.
00:21:27In ancient times, the mountain was a disputed area between tribes
00:21:30due to the abundance of fertile pastures that served as important
00:21:34and desired summer
00:21:35resorts.
00:21:38During the era of inter-regional trade by pack animals,
00:21:42this giant mountain was also a major route for
00:21:45trade caravans connecting Timbuktu and the region
00:21:48towards the poles,
00:21:52and Paris.
00:21:57The weather was clear when we set out to climb the mountain, but
00:22:00our shock was great when we were surprised by a noticeable drop in
00:22:04temperature and the appearance of dense fog that obscured
00:22:08our vision
00:22:08and prevented our progress.
00:22:12The weather was ominous of a fierce snowstorm that began
00:22:15with light snowfall and then heavy snowfall that covered
00:22:18the sides of the road
00:22:26In the meantime, we realized that the best time to ascend this rugged mountain was the beginning
00:22:30of spring until the end of August.
00:22:34During that period, temperatures
00:22:37and such dangerous weather fluctuations
00:22:41disappear. However, caution against the possibility of weather changes at such
00:22:44high altitudes, exceeding
00:22:473700 meters above sea level,
00:22:51remains always necessary, as the weather
00:22:54there is unstable and can change at any
00:22:57moment, even in summer.
00:23:01The region is mountainous, and it is known for a significant and common drop
00:23:04in temperature and high winds throughout
00:23:08the year. It is unwise to climb such
00:23:12peaks without taking precautions
00:23:13against its turbulent
00:23:41climate. The lack of clear visibility that we faced
00:23:45was made worse by the intense cold accompanied by a wind
00:23:50until it almost threw us at times from the top of the mountain.
00:24:17We finally surrendered to our fate, but we are still
00:24:20determined to return again under suitable conditions when
00:24:24we feel a stable weather, different from the weather
00:24:28of this frustrating attempt.
00:25:03Midelt, which in its earlier era witnessed flourishing
00:25:07growth thanks to, began to experience difficult
00:25:11times due to the collapse of the global lead
00:25:14market. This was followed by a severe economic
00:25:17crisis, forcing the city to face
00:25:28hardships. Activists did not stand idly by, but rather
00:25:30had a strong resolve to face the challenges
00:25:34of their destiny.
00:25:38This resolve led to an alternative and bold economic
00:25:40transformation by turning towards apple cultivation
00:25:44as an alternative to the lead
00:25:46mining economy.
00:25:50Thanks to vigorously pursuing this new activity,
00:25:53the apple fruit became a symbol of the region and a national
00:25:57pride that prompted Midelt to celebrate its new
00:26:01economic identity every year. An
00:26:03international apple festival attracts visitors from all over
00:26:06the world.
00:26:10However, the constant drought plunged the region into
00:26:13a new period of frustration and uncertainty, threatening
00:26:17the progress made in reviving the region's economy and developing
00:26:24In the beginning, the production was good, things were good,
00:26:27the rain was good, and the country was good.
00:26:31There is a lot of shortage in all of Morocco,
00:26:34especially in the Atlas, which is known for snow. So there is a significant
00:26:38decrease in snow, and this caused a big problem for us in the shortage
00:26:41of water. Production also decreased, and quality also
00:26:45decreased because apples are highly related
00:26:48to climate and weather. So, climate has a
00:26:51big role. If it is lacking, then the quality is lacking. If there is a lot
00:26:54of rain and snow, then the quality is good.
00:26:58The same optimism that accompanied the planting of apples
00:27:02was hindered by the scourge of drought, threatening the city
00:27:05with the closure of the door of hope in front of it.
00:27:10never close with perseverance and strength
00:27:14not necessarily lie in green areas
00:27:18alone, but they may lie in the arid
00:27:21areas surrounding this vast
00:27:24Midelt region.
00:27:27These areas, which seem unproductive
00:27:30and useless, contain archaeological treasures
00:27:38can promote the future of the region's villages
00:27:40and their surroundings.
00:27:43About 4 km northwest of Midelt, in 1962,
00:27:461962
00:27:48an important archaeological mass grave was discovered between the Moulouya
00:27:52Valley and the Bouajoul Valley at a site
00:27:55called Agadir Taarart.
00:27:58The cemetery consists of 24 monolithic monuments
00:28:01on the left bank of the Bouajoul Valley, and
00:28:05it contains 11 tombs, all dating back to pre-Islamic
00:28:08times.
00:28:12archaeological treasure, we were accompanied by Dr. Youssef
00:28:15Al-Muqaddam, a researcher in the heritage of the Upper Moulouya, to a high
00:28:20to the ancient presence of settlement on these
00:28:23lands when they were fertile and prosperous.