"Dayet Aoua" lake (which means lake of the seagull in the Moroccan dialect) is one of the famous tourist attractions in Morocco, where tourists who are lovers of mountain and ecological tourism flock to it.
The area of the lake, estimated at 140 hectares, changes with the changing seasons and weather shifts, and various fish live in its waters, most notably the "Zanjour" (river fish), which is considered one of the most abundant fish species in the lake.
Everything surrounding "Dayet Aoua" is charming, as it is located on the outskirts of the city of "Ifrane", which means in the Amazigh language "caves", and is nicknamed "Little Switzerland" or "Switzerland of the Arabs", because of the snow and green spaces that increase its splendour, and bring it closer to the European character.
The forests and springs surrounding the lake are known for their distinctive ecological diversity, as animals live in the forests adjacent to it, on the heights and slopes of the Atlas Mountains, such as monkeys, Barbary sheep, and 142 species of birds, such as storks, pelicans, wild ducks, and curlews, and 33 types of reptiles and frogs, and most of the residents of the areas adjacent to the lake work in agriculture, especially apples, and poultry farming.
On the banks of the lake, Amazigh horses line up, adorned with saddles engraved with traditional Moroccan decorations, waiting for visitors to ride them, to lead them on a tour on the banks of "Dayet Aoua", while the voices of the villagers, who are professional riders, sing mountain songs that echo in the sides of the lake and its atmosphere.
Idriss Benali, one of the horse breeders in "Dayet Aoua", says to the Anadolu Agency: "Despite the weak infrastructure in the region, the lake, throughout the year, is a major attraction for foreign tourists, who head to the park to enjoy the nature and the captivating calm of the region and its fresh air".
Benali adds that "if the region were given more attention, and entertainment and recreation centres were established on its sides, it would be able to attract a larger number of visitors daily", without specifying the number of visitors at the present time, although unofficial estimates say they reach hundreds of thousands annually.
Tourists flock to the lake in various seasons of the year, but spring and summer are considered the seasons of the year that witness a remarkable turnout of foreign visitors to the region, given its moderate weather during these periods of the year, while the region experiences significant snowfall during the winter seasons.
A number of tourists choose to take a tour across the lake, by small boats, which give them the opportunity to explore "Dayet Aoua" up close, and enjoy its charming views.
In an interview with Anadolu, Patricia Iron, a German tourist, says that "the weather near the lake is refreshing and humid, and the view of the mountains surrounding it is captivating, and adds a special magic to the lake, and confirms to me at the same time that Morocco really enjoys stunning natural qualifications".
As for Mohamed El Fatmi, an employee from the Moroccan city of Tangier (northern Morocco) and his family, they chose to spend the weekend near the city of Ifrane and visit the "Dayet Aoua" lake.
El Fatmi tells Anadolu, "This lake is considered one of the most important areas that mountain tourism lovers in Morocco head to, and I came with my family to enjoy the calm of the place and its refreshing weather".
Specialists know "Dayet Aoua" as one of the important wetlands in the Middle Atlas region, which contributes to maintaining biodiversity in the region, and represents a basic support for agriculture based on irrigation in the fields adjacent to it.
In general, the Middle Atlas Mountains region in Morocco is characterised by charming nature, and by its mountain heights from which springs and fountains descend, to extend on its slopes lakes, and it is considered an important reservoir of water and a contributor to providing vast areas of groundwater, and besides its tourist advantages, these lakes are considered a basic source of fish wealth in the region.
Near the "Dayet Aoua" lake, there are the lakes of "Iffer", "Afennourir", "Aifrah", "Chahlaf", and a number of other lakes on the slopes of the towering Middle Atlas Mountains.
