Cows in a swampy river, Morocco

The region of Rabat, like the entire north of Morocco’s Atlantic Coast, enjoys relatively abundant precipitation (up to 31.5 in [80 cm] a year). In this part of the country, considered one of the best watered of Morocco, the March and November rains fill the waterways and are responsible for significant floods. But beginning in May, a hot arid wind from the southeast, the chergui, gradually dries out their beds. This river, which has temporarily become swampy, is covered in an ephemeral carpet of grass and flowers explored by a few cows searching for food after having escaped from nearby herds. With a little more than 2.6 million head,cattle breeding, which is dominated by local breeds selected both for their milk and their meat, takes second place in Morocco. As in many other Mediterranean countries, rearing goats (5.2 million head) and sheep (16.7 million head) is far more common.