Mountainous areas receive more rainfall and are therefore cooler.
The north is also affected by a searing hot wind known as the ghibli, which blows from the desert around spring, causing dramatically higher temperatures and less humidity. As can be expected of this mostly desert region, vegetation is somewhat sparse although small clusters of salt bush, esparto and alfalfa grasses do appear every now and again and on the plateau, shrubs like wild pistachio and asphodel grow where they can. One can also sometimes spot trees such as fig, acacia and tamarind. At the oases date palms orange and olive trees thrive. Annual plants are abundant and include species such as brome grass, canary grass, bluegrass, and rye grass.