Morocco has the Middle Atlas
Morocco boasts an amazing modification in terrain and vegetation, with fruitful plains near its Atlantic coast, many dramatic mountains and The Sahara Desert.
Location : Morocco is situated in northwest Africa and is separated from Spain at the northernmost tip by the narrow Straits of Gibraltar. Morocco’s land borders are with Algeria and Mauritania. The Atlantic sea lies to the west and the Mediterranean to the north.
Land mass : Approx. 446,000sq km
Land use :
arable land 21%
permanent crops 1%
permanent pastures 47%
forests and woodland twenty p.c.
other 11%
Mountains
there are several superb mountain ranges in Morocco on which you can climb, hike, ski or ride mules. The fantastic variety of foliage, natural water features and mountain tops is enticing.
The mountains are often heavily wooded, with firs and cedars on the higher slopes. In winter lots of the mountains are covered in snow. Many mountain animals live here, including the unusual Atalas monkey, together with a large variety of migratory birds and birds of prey, such as eagles. There is an enormous bird reserve located where the Moulouya brook flows into the Mediterranean sea.
Amtoudi top : found south of Agadir. You can either climb the 20-30 cm narrow, rocky trail along the edge, or hire a mule to do the job for you. An impressive view awaits you at the top.
Atlas Mountains : Filling the majority of the northwestern corner of Africa, the Atlas are split into five regions stretching from Morocco, through northerly Algeria and touching Tunisia.
Morocco has the Middle Atlas, High Atlas and Anti Atlas. The High Atlas is the highest range, with Jabal Toubkal stretching to 4,165 metres. The Middle Atlas reaches 3,350 metres and the Anti Atlas does not reach higher than 2,531 metres, but it still has some awfully craggy landscape. At the fringe of the Anti-Atlas in the intense south, the view is consists of massive, eroded gorges which flow with the rivers into the dry, desolate wastes of the Sahara desert.
Chefchaouen Mountains : located in the north east, south of Tetouan. The Chefchaouen Mountains have two peaks, Jebel Meggou at 1,625 meters above sea level and Jebel Tisouka with its mosque on top at 2,050 meters.
Oregano Mountains, Taliouine : located near Tiznit, south of Agadir. These mountains are covered with oregano and transmit the scent throughout the valley. At the head of these mountains ( 1,500 meters above sea level ) are two caves employed by goats for shelter.
Rif Mountains : found on the northernmost area of Morocco on the north eastern limits of the Atalas mountains. The Rif mountains are made of steep cliffs, close to the shore of Mediterranean Morocco where the terrain is rough.
Sarhro Mountains : found south west of Marrakesh. They are a smashing winter trekking destination as the desert cools and the High Atlas Mountains become covered with snow. It’s a remote area adorned with volcanic monoliths, vegetated plateaux, canyons, little Berber towns and the nomadic Ait Atta folks. The Sarho are arguably the most captivating mountains in all of Morocco.
Setti Fatma : Located at the end of the Ourika Valley in Marrakesh. It has seven lovely waterfalls, monumental perspectives and mountain long trails for toughened walkers.
Tafraoute Mountains : located south east of Agadir. The rocky, pink mountains here are the main attractions. A Belgian artist, Jean Verame, once painted some of the rocks blue in 1984, although these have now faded.
Tan Tan Mountains : found down south. Renowned for its extraordinarily flat peak and hollowness in some parts of the mountain.
rivers
Morocco has the most intensive river system in North Africa. Its rivers often flow northwest to the Atlantic or southeast towards the Sahara Desert. The main streams of Morocco are the Sebou which runs into the Atlantic, and the Moulouya running into the Mediterranean.
Deserts
To the south and east lies the Sahara Desert. The Sahara is the planet’s biggest desert and in Arabic its name means’wilderness’. The Sahara doesn’t fit the traditional idea of a totally flat and waterless area. There are streams in the hills and the desert oases support both human and animal life.
Plants in the desert region survive with small water ; some have terribly deep roots, others have little leaves or spines. Desert animals must also survive with little water and many COMMA for instance. The desert fox, remain concealed in the heat of the day others, for example gazelles, travel many miles in search of water.
fertile plains
These are going to be found along the Atlantic coast, stretching to the Atlas Mountains and they’re rich for farming, producing most of the country’s fruit and vegetables. It is well irrigated by the melt water from mountain snows from the Atlas. Typical plants are orange trees, date palms and cork oak trees.
Climate
Morocco’s climate varies widely : The north is Mediterranean and the south is subtropical while the sea and mountains help to maintain a pleasing climate.
Winters are mild and the summers are hot and dry. Average daytime temperatures in winter range between sixteen to 23 C and in summer, from 33 to 42 C. Like Spain, Morocco has approximately 330 days of sunshine every year.
Mountain tops are covered with snow for the majority of the year.
Desert temperature fluctuations between night and day are extreme and rainfall is low and unpredictable.
The Environment’s Future
Morocco’s natural environment is under pressure in a selection number of ways : The skyrocketing number of visitors and the over exploitation of resources like oil and phosphates could damage the ecosystem in the desert. Overgrazing and the spread of the desert may also threaten currently productive areas in the future.
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