Water has always fascinated me being raised largely in a desert. BTW, speaking about water, go and check out Chinatown (1975).
If you want to watch a movie about water, go watch it; it’s also one of the best movies ever made.
Meanwhile, we were in Marrakech, Morocco recently, and the question kept coming up: where does it all come from? The city sits just north-northwest of the Atlas Mountains, so the answer, of course, begins up there.
On one trip we headed into the High Atlas Mountains to Imlil. Everywhere you look there are small barriers, channels, and ancient irrigation systems guiding precious melted snow down to the valleys and to the dwindling number of farms in the area.
It made me wonder how Morocco manages water for a city like Marrakech. How do they capture enough? How do they plan for it? What role does the government play—dams, reservoirs, distribution? That curiosity led us to this water museum in the northwest part of Marrakech.
It was utterly fascinating. Morocco has around 130–140 dams, and this museum tells the long story of the country’s constant battle for water across the centuries. We visited on a weekday and practically had the place to ourselves—only a small group of four arrived later.
We’d taken the local bus back into town for about 40 pence. We were the only Europeans on board, but that’s another story. The museum itself is grand—three floors, designed so you start at the top and work your way down.
The exhibits, videos, and interactive displays did a wonderful job of showing just how difficult, and how ingenious, water sourcing and distribution have been in this land. From the top floor there’s a striking panoramic view (or large display) highlighting Morocco’s water systems, with Marrakech prominently featured.
What impressed me almost as much as the content was the museum itself. Despite the light foot traffic, it was immaculate. The finishes—marble, granite, and high-quality materials—show that no expense was spared. You could feel the city’s (and the country’s) genuine pride in the place. It was spotless, dignified, and beautifully maintained. My only gripe, was that due to the UK, in my opinion, having more cafes than anywhere in the world (!), there was only a very small display unit here that was serving drinks; with the coffee hall being closed.
Other than that, it’s a real hidden gem that gave us a much deeper appreciation for a resource we so easily take for granted; particularly in Scotland.
CB
Curious Bystander 