TENSIFT, OUED

river in west-central Morocco. The Oued Tensift rises from several headstreams in the Haut (High) Atlas mountains and flows westward for 160 miles (260 km) to the Atlantic Ocean south of Safi. The Tensift's river valley, the Haouz lowland, has been transformed from an arid wasteland into a fertile farming region by the construction of irrigation and hydroelectric dams along the river's course. Wheat, olives, fruit, vegetables, and grapes are grown. Chief tributaries of the Tensift include the Chichauoa and N'fis rivers. Marrakech is the agricultural market centre and largest town of the valley, while Safi serves as its port.