title: Ourika River
text: # Ourika River
  
  Ourika River (Arabic: نهر أوريكا) (French: Oued Ourika) is a river in Morocco, at 31°24′00″N 7°47′00″W﻿ / ﻿31.4°N 7.783333°W﻿ / 31.4; -7.783333. It rises in the High Atlas and flows through the Ourika Valley, 30 km from Marrakech.
  
  ## Natural history
  
  A number of interesting plants have been recorded in this valley beginning in the late 19th century including Fraxinus dimorpha. This valley is the sole location within the High Atlas Range where the endangered primate Barbary macaque, Macaca sylvanus is known to occur; this primate is found in the Middle Atlas and a few disjunctive populations in Algeria and Gibraltar.
  
  Ourika Valley, due to its many waterfalls and several attractions, is a very popular Ourika day trip from Marrakech.
  
  The region is inhabited by Berber people who practice a traditional way of life. Despite its proximity to Marrakech, it is still considered relatively "unspoiled".
  
  * Salt production in Ourika Valley
  * Ourika river itself
  * Drying carpets at a Berber village factory in Ourika Valley.
  