The most extensive river system
Morocco boasts an amazing modification in terrain and foliage, with fertile 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 twenty percent
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 enthralling .
The mountains are typically heavily wooded, with firs and cedars on the higher slopes. In winter plenty of the mountains are covered in snow. Many mountain animals live here, including the unusual Atalas monkey, along with a big variety of migratory birds and birds of prey,eg eagles. There is a huge bird reserve found where the Moulouya brook flows into the Mediterranean sea.
Amtoudi peak : 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. A spectacular 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 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 rugged landscape. At the edge of the Anti-Atlas in the intense south, the scenery 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 : found near Tiznit, south of Agadir. These mountains are covered with oregano and broadcast the scent across the valley. At the pinnacle 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 boundaries of the Atalas mountains. The Rif mountains are made of steep cliffs, near the shore of Mediterranean Morocco where the terrain is craggy.
Sarhro Mountains : located 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 monoliths, vegetated plateaux, canyons, little Berber towns and the nomadic Ait Atta folk. The Sarho are arguably the most captivating mountains in the whole of Morocco.
Setti Fatma : Located at the end of the Ourika Valley in Marrakesh. It has seven lovely waterfalls, breathtaking perspectives and mountain long trails for toughened 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, although these have now faded.
Tan Tan Mountains : located down south. Known for its very flat top and hollowness in some bits of the mountain.
rivers
Morocco has the most extensive stream system in North Africa. Its rivers generally 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 world’s largest desert and in Arabic its name means’wilderness’. The Sahara does not fit the traditional 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 very deep roots, others have small leaves or spines. Desert animals must also survive with small water and many COMMA eg. The desert fox, remain concealed during the heat of the day others, for example gazelles, travel many miles in search of water.
fertile plains
These are to be found along the Atlantic coast, stretching to the Atlas Mountains and they’re rich for farming, manufacturing almost all 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 an agreeable climate.
Winters are mild and the summers are hot and dry. Average daytime temperatures in winter range between sixteen to twenty-three C and in summer, from thirty three to 42 C. Like Spain, Morocco has approximately 330 days of sunshine every year.
Mountain tops are covered with snow for almost all of the year.
Desert temperature modifications between night and day are extraordinary and rainfall is low and unpredictable.
The Environment’s Future
Morocco’s natural environment is under stress in a selection number of ways : The accelerating 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 might also threaten currently productive areas in the future.
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