Ouarzazate is a city and capital of Ouarzazate Province in the Souss-Massa-Dra? of southern-central Morocco. As of 2004 it had a population of 56,616. Ouarzazate is located at an elevation of 1,160 metres (3,810 ft) in the middle of a bare plateau, south of the High Atlas Mountains. To the south of the town is the desert. The town is chiefly inhabited by Berbers, who constructed many of the prominent kasbahs and building for which the area is known for.