El Ourit Waterfalls

The El Ourit falls drop through a wooded gorge below Tlemcen in a series of cascades, and what makes the site distinctive is the stone railway viaduct built across the gorge at the end of the nineteenth century, its arches standing directly above the water. The falls were a celebrated excursion in the colonial period and appear on postcards from that era running at full volume. They run much thinner now: water is drawn upstream for supply and irrigation, and in dry years the cascades reduce to trickles, so the visit depends heavily on recent rain. After winter rainfall they still run strongly and the gorge, the arches and the water together are worth the short trip from the city.

What's there

• The stone railway viaduct - arches carried straight across the gorge.
• Cascades through the wooded gorge - the falls when water is running.
• The old excursion setting - the site as it appears on early postcards.
• Tlemcen mountains above - the limestone country around the gorge.

When to go

December to April, after rain, when the falls actually run; by late summer they are often dry. Two hours. Check recent weather before making the trip.

Things to know

For much of the year there is very little water and visitors are disappointed. Upstream extraction has permanently reduced the flow. Access paths are informal and slippery. Litter around the site is heavy.

Nearby

Beni Add caves are east; Tlemcen lies west.

Key facts