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Reservoir lake
Lalla Takerkoust Lake: the turquoise dam at the foot of the Atlas
Before visiting
Key takeAbout thirty kilometres from Marrakech, this turquoise reservoir lake offers jet-skiing, kayaking and Atlas mountain views — a natural stop that pairs easily
with the Agafay desert.
Location
Insight
A dam that became a turquoise lake at the foot of the Atlas
The origin of Lalla Takerkoust Lake, between irrigation and landscape.
Lalla Takerkoust Lake exists because of a dam built between 1929 and 1935 on the Oued N'Fis, known at the time as the Cavagnac dam, built to irrigate the Haouz plain and generate electricity.
The dam was later raised by nine metres between 1978 and 1980 to offset reservoir silting.
The result is a seven-kilometre-long turquoise reservoir framed by the foothills of the High Atlas — a sharp contrast with the rocky Agafay plateau bordering the site.
Insight
Water sports and shoreline activities
Jet-skiing, kayaking and horse rides by the water.
The lake has developed into an accessible water sports destination from Marrakech. Several operators along the shore rent jet-skis (roughly MAD 300–500 for 15 minutes), kayaks, paddleboards and canoes.
Swimming in the reservoir itself remains officially prohibited, though some private lakeside clubs offer access to leisure areas for an entry fee.
Nearby stables offer horse rides along the shoreline, a quieter way to take in the scenery. Those after more land-based thrills can follow up with a quad or buggy circuit on the dry tracks surrounding the lake, on the Agafay side.
Insight
A natural stop alongside the Agafay desert
The lake and the Agafay plateau are often combined into one circuit.
Lalla Takerkoust Lake sits directly alongside the Agafay desert area, which is why many tours combine both sites into a half-day or full-day trip: quad or buggy in the desert in the morning, then lunch or a water activity by the lake.
The road is paved the whole way from Marrakech, accessible by standard car — only the surrounding desert excursion itself requires an off-road vehicle.
Several restaurants and clubs set up along the lakeshore serve as lunch stops for these combined tours, with views over the turquoise water and the Atlas peaks
in the background, especially photogenic at sunset.
Practical guides
Useful guides around this place
These guides help compare rhythms, formats and practical choices before shaping the visit.
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