Oued M'Zi

The Oued M'Zi (also spelled Wadi M'Zab) is a dry river valley (oued) located in the Ghardaïa Province of the Algerian Sahara. It is the principal geographical feature of the M'Zab region, historically inhabited by the Mozabite Berbers. The valley is formed by seasonal flash floods, which are crucial to the traditional agricultural practices of the M'zab. The M'Zab valley is characterized by its five fortified villages (ksour): Ghardaïa, Beni Isguen, Melika, Bounoura, and El Atteuf, which are collectively a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to their unique architecture and adaptation to the harsh desert environment. The hydraulic system developed by the Mozabites to manage the floodwaters of the Oued M'Zi is an integral part of the region's cultural and economic sustainability, allowing for the cultivation of date palm groves and other crops. The oued's flow is intermittent and heavily dependent on rainfall in the surrounding highlands.