Dakhla

Dakhla

Dakhla, capital of the claimed Moroccan administrative region of Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab, is a city in the disputed territory of Western Sahara, which is presently under Moroccan occupation. It is located on a narrow peninsula of the Atlantic coast, the Río de Oro Peninsula, approximately 550 km to the south of Laayoune. Dakhla and its surrounding areas are very poor in vegetation and are mostly covered by the Sahara Desert, as is most of Western Sahara. However, in contrast to the land, the sea waters are abundant in marine life due to the very productive Canary Current system flowing nearby and the famous Nouadhibou Upwelling. These factors create outstanding conditions for local fisheries and lead to a strong local biodiversity, especially for birds. This is why UNESCO has proposed the creation of the "Dakhla National Park". One of the most important wintering areas for birds, especially waders, is the Dakhla Peninsula and Cintra Bay. One of the most symbolic birds of the region is the Greater Flamingo, and there are plenty of others that are known to migrate or reside here. Among them are pelicans, terns, gulls, larks, Great Cormorant, Black Wheatear, Western Reef Heron, Marsh Harrier, Lesser Kestrel, Sparrow Hawk, Laughing Dove, Little Swift, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Rock Martin, Cricket Longtail, Pharaoh Eagle Owl, Bar-Tailed Godwit, and Red-Knobbed Coot. The land animals are less diverse than the birds, but they include, Fennec Foxe Ruppell’s Fox, caracals, hyenas, camels, rabbits, gazelles, and hedgehogs.