Morocco boasts a superb modification in terrain and foliage, with fertile 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 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 twenty p.c.
other 11%
Mountains
there are several wonderful mountain ranges in Morocco on which you can climb, hike, ski or ride mules. The amazing variety of foliage, natural water features and mountain peaks 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 bizarre Atalas monkey, along with a big variety of migratory birds and birds of prey,eg eagles. There’s a large bird reserve found where the Moulouya brook 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. A spectacular view awaits you at the top.
Atlas Mountains : Filling almost all of the northwestern corner of Africa, the Atlas are divided into 5 regions stretching from Morocco, through 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 very craggy landscape. At the fringe of the Anti-Atlas in the extraordinary south, the views are consists of huge, 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 2 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 : found near Tiznit, south of Agadir. These mountains are covered with oregano and broadcast the smell 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 : 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 rugged.
Sarhro Mountains : located 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 is a remote area decorated with volcanic obelisks, vegetated plateaux, ravines, little Berber hamlets and the winding Ait Atta folk. 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 7 attractive waterfalls, breathtaking views and mountain long trails for hardened walkers.
Tafraoute Mountains : found 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 awfully flat peak and hollowness in some parts of the mountain.
streams
Morocco has the most in depth river system in North Africa. Its rivers generally 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 standard idea of an entirely 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 small leaves or spines. Desert animals must also survive with little water and many COMMA eg. The desert fox, remain concealed in the heat of the day others, such as 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, producing almost all of the state’s fruit and veg. It is well irrigated by the melt water from mountain snows from the Atlas. Common 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 pleasant 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 thirty three to 42 C. Like Spain, Morocco has approximately 330 days of sunshine per year.
Mountain peaks are covered with snow for almost all of the year.
Desert temperature modifications between night and day are acute and rainfall is low and unpredictable.
The Environment’s Future
Morocco’s natural environment is under stress in a selection 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 could also threaten now productive areas in the future.
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