Lake Tislit

Tislit, the "Lake of the Bride", sits a few kilometres north of Imilchil at around 2,200 metres. It is a shallow crater lake about 1.5 kilometres long, ringed by reddish hills and grazing land. In summer the water turns brilliant blue against the dry surrounding plateau; in spring it is fed by snowmelt and the shoreline is fringed with wildflowers.

There is a basic auberge by the water and a small parking area where the local festival is held. You can walk the entire shore in a couple of hours. Bring sun protection — there is almost no shade at this altitude — and warm layers, because nights even in summer drop close to freezing.

things to do sight lake
A story
Berber legend says Tislit (the bride) and Isli (the bridegroom) were lovers from rival clans whose families forbade their marriage. They wept until their tears formed the two lakes, then drowned themselves in them. The Moussem des Fiançailles at Imilchil is said to commemorate this story by giving Berber families a chance to marry without that kind of refusal.