Rare Sahara floods bring Morocco's dried-up south back to life

A drone view shows sand dunes partially covered by floodwaters, after rare rainfall hit the area last September, in Merzouga, Morocco, Oct. 24, 2024. Tourists visit Yasmina lake, a seasonal lake in the village of Merzouga in the Sahara desert in southeastern Morocco, Oct. 20, 2024.

In Morocco's southeastern desert, a rare downpour has brought lakes and ponds back to life, with locals — and tourists — hailing it as a gift from the heavens.