Loukkos River 2.59

The Loukkos River is a major river in northern Morocco. Although it is relatively short, the river is the third largest in Morocco with an average flow of 50 m³/s. The Loukkos river takes source in the Rif Mountains and flows into the Atlantic Ocean in the city of Larache; the city's port is on the river. The Loukkos river basin is 3,730 km² and contains one of the most fertile and productive agricultural lands in the country. One of the river's tributaries, Oued Makhazine, bears great historical importance since it witnessed one of the most decisive battles in the history of Morocco: the Battle of Alcácer Quibir. In the battle on the 4th of August, 1578, the joint army of deposed Moroccan monarch Abu Abdallah Mohammed II Saadi and his ally, King Sebastian of Portugal, was defeated by the army of the new Moroccan sultan from the same Saadi dynasty .The Lukkus is the largest river in northern Morocco. Although it is relatively short, this river carries the third largest water flow in Morocco. The river can cause great flooding in times of flood. In 1775 the river appeared on a map by Tomás López and Vargas with the denomination of "River Lucos. For a time the river formed a border between Morocco and the French imperial lands.Ancient historyAncient Lixus is located on Tchemmich Hill on the right bank of the Loukkos River (other names: Oued Loukous; Locus River), just to the north of the modern seaport of Larache. The site lies within the urban perimeter of Larache, and about three kilometres inland from the mouth of the river and the Atlantic Ocean. From its 80 metres above the plain the site dominates the marshes through which the river flows.