Palmeraie (Marrakesh) facts for kids
The Palmeraie (say "Pal-mer-ay") is a huge palm grove located just outside the city of Marrakesh, Morocco. It's like a giant green oasis with hundreds of thousands of palm trees! This amazing area is found on the northern edge of Marrakesh. It stretches about 5 miles (8 kilometers) long and covers a large area of 54 square miles (140 square kilometers). The Palmeraie is famous for its many palm trees, especially date palms, and also for its fancy resorts and hotels. You can reach it by driving on the Circuit de la Palmeraie road, which connects to the N8 highway that goes to Fez.
The Story of the Palmeraie
There's an old story about how the Palmeraie came to be. Legend says that many centuries ago, Arab warriors were camping in the area. After eating dates, they threw the seeds on the ground. Some of these seeds landed in holes made by their spears and started to grow into trees!
However, the real history tells us that the Palmeraie was actually created during the Almoravid period. This was a time when a powerful dynasty ruled Morocco. They built a special water system called a khettara to bring water to the area. A khettara is like an underground tunnel that carries water from faraway mountains to dry land. This clever system helped the palm trees grow and thrive.
Over 1000 years ago, people called this garden of palm trees "the ardent children of the African earth and sun." Sultan Yussef Ben Tachefine, who founded the Almoravid dynasty, camped in the Haouz plain. His soldiers ate dates and threw the seeds, and some grew into trees. Many centuries later, this plain became a lush oasis with 50,000 trees. Today, there are over 100,000 date palms, along with olive and other fruit trees. Modern reservoirs and wells now provide water for irrigation.
In the 1920s, city rules said that buildings in the Palmeraie could not be taller than the palm trees. This helped keep the area green and natural. Because of this rule, palm trees even grew in the pavements! However, in recent years, more buildings have been constructed, changing the look of some parts of the area.
See also
In Spanish: Palmeral de Marrakech para niños
