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   Morocco / Cities and Towns /
Ouarzazate
Arabic: warzāzāt
City in south-central Morocco with 60,000 inhabitants (2005 estimate).
Ouarzazate is situated in the interior of the country, south of the High Atlas mountains, at an elevation of 1,135 metres.
Ouarzazate has been formed to become the centre of Sahara tourism, and the place has many luxury hotels. Ouarzazate has also served as the centre of international film makers, when shooting desert and semidesert scenes. Among famous films shot around Ouarzazate we find The Gladiator, Lawrence of Arabia and The Sheltering Sky. Ouarzazate has an international airport.
History
19th century: The Glaoui family gets control of the region, and settles in the Taourirt kasbah.
1928: Ouarzazate is established as a French garrison and administrative centre, right north of Taourirt.
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