Mountains are often heavily wooded
Morocco boasts a fantastic modification in terrain and foliage, with fruitful fields 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 ocean lies to the west and the Mediterranean to the north.
Land mass : Approx. 446,000sq km
Land use :
arable land 21%
permanent crops one percent
permanent pastures 47%
forests and woodland 20%
other 11%
Mountains
there are several fantastic 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 captivating.
The mountains are often heavily wooded, with firs and cedars on the higher slopes. In winter many of the mountains are covered in snow. Many mountain animals live here, including the bizarre Atalas monkey, along with a massive variety of migratory birds and birds of prey, such as eagles. There’s a large bird reserve located where the Moulouya stream flows into the Mediterranean sea.
Amtoudi peak : found south of Agadir. You may 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 almost all of the northwestern corner of Africa, the Atlas are split into 5 regions stretching from Morocco, thru northern 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 has some awfully rough landscape. At the fringe of the Anti-Atlas in the intense south, the view is consists of vast, eroded gorges which flow with the brooks into the dry, desolate wastes of the Sahara desert.
Chefchaouen Mountains : found 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 broadcast the scent throughout the valley. At the head of these mountains ( 1,500 meters above sea level ) are two caves used by goats for shelter.
Rif Mountains : located on the northernmost area of Morocco on the north eastern limits of the Atalas mountains. The Rif mountains are made from steep cliffs, near the shore of Mediterranean Morocco where the terrain is rugged.
Sarhro Mountains : found south west of Marrakesh. They seem to be a superb winter trekking destination as the desert cools and the High Atlas Mountains become covered with snow. It is a remote area decorated with volcanic obelisks, vegetated plateaux, ravines, small Berber towns and the winding Ait Atta folk. The Sarho are arguably the most interesting mountains in the whole of Morocco.
Setti Fatma : Located at the end of the Ourika Valley in Marrakesh. It has seven attractive waterfalls, monumental perspectives and mountain long trails for hardened hikers.
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, though these have now faded.
Tan Tan Mountains : found down south. Renowned for its extraordinarily flat peak and hollowness in some pieces of the mountain.
streams
Morocco has the most extensive stream system in North Africa. Its rivers typically flow northwest to the Atlantic or southeast towards the Sahara Desert. The main brooks 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 conventional idea of a wholly 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 small water and many COMMA for instance. The desert fox, remain hidden in the heat of the day others,eg gazelles, travel many miles in search of water.
fruitful fields
These are to be found along the Atlantic coast, stretching to the Atlas Mountains and they’re rich for agriculture, manufacturing almost all of the nation’s fruit and veg. It is well irrigated by the melt water from mountain snows from the Atlas. Everyday 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 16 to twenty-three C and in summer, from 33 to 42 C. Like Spain, Morocco has approximately 330 days of sunshine per year.
Mountain tops are covered with snow for almost all of the year.
Desert temperature variations between night and day are extreme and rainfall is low and unpredictable.
The Environment’s Future
Morocco’s natural environment is under stress in a variety number of ways : The increasing 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 now productive areas in the future.
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