MOROCCO, Telouet. June 22, 2021.
High in the Atlas Mountains, Telouet was once the seat of the Glaoui dynasty, which ruled tracks of southern Morocco until the 1950’s. The sultans’ casbah still stands, large ruined and battered by the elements. Some villagers say they would prefer to continue building in stone, as much of the casbah is, and as befits a cold high mountain community, but with little easily accessible stone remaining they say they have little choice but to turn to concrete. After centuries of deforestation and stone collecting, much of which has gone to construction, the area is also highly prone to vicious flash floods. In recent years, strong rains have destroyed hundreds of Telouet houses, which has reinforced residents’ desire for concrete construction.