Current view: Text account
Site description (2001 baseline):
Site location and context
The Aguelmane de Sidi Ali Ta’nzoult is one of the most important natural lakes in Morocco, both in terms of its area (500 ha) and its depth (36 m). Situated in a volcanic depression at 2,078 m, 18 km south of the village of Timahdit in the Middle Atlas, the lake is dominated by the ridge of Jbel Sidi Ali, rising to the summit of Jbel Bouyizane (2,395 m). The eastern shore of the lake is bordered by steep slopes wooded with
Cedrus atlantica,
Juniperus thurifera and
Quercus rotundifolia. On other sides the lake is surrounded by a large marshy plain (Ta’nzoult), watered by a spring-fed stream, and the vegetation is composed of
Juncus,
Rumex and
Scirpus species. The site includes the marshy plain and the slopes rising to the summit of Jbel Bouyizane, a total area of approximately 1,750 ha. Annual precipitation is 1,100 mm.
See Box for key species. Both
Tadorna ferruginea and
Fulica cristata nest in small numbers at the site, but are primarily noteworthy as wintering species. Many other waterfowl also winter (e.g.
Anas penelope and
Fulica atra) but do not exceed A4i thresholds. Five species of the Mediterranean North Africa biome occur (see Table 2).
Non-bird biodiversity: The primate Macaca sylvanus (VU) occurs in the wooded part of the site. The lake used to harbour an endemic trout Salmo pallaryi, but it has disappeared following the introduction of exotic predatory fish.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Although currently unprotected the site is a priority 2 SIBE (No. H25). Land-ownership is public, and the site is exploited for pasture, wood-collection, fishing and tourism. It is heavily used by both tourists and local people, partly due to its ease of access (it is located only 1.5 km from a tarmac road), and visitor pressure is thought to disturb bird activity and increase pollution and deforestation. Overgrazing is also a problem, destroying natural vegetation and increasing soil erosion and sedimentation in the lake. Conservation measures are needed, in particular to protect the nesting populations of
Tadorna ferruginea on the Ta’nzoult plain.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Aguelmane de Sidi Ali Ta'nzoult (Morocco). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/aguelmane-de-sidi-ali-tanzoult-iba-morocco on 23/12/2024.
