Mountains in Algeria | By Algeria Channel City finder Climb or Hike the Majestic Mountains of Algeria From the Mediterranean coast the landscape peaks in the Atlas Mountains before it stretches across the Sahara Desert . With such varied topography, Algeria's landscape is diverse and fascinating. Algeria's mountain ranges cover large portions of the land. Some of Algeria's mountains form part of the great Atlas Mountain Range whilst others are located only within the country's borders. The Atlas Mountains The Atlas Mountain Range extends some 2400km/1500 miles across Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco. It creates a border between the Mediterranean and the Sahara desert and is home to remote Arab villages in Algeria. This impressive mountain range is made up of the following sections: Middle Atlas, Anti-Atlas, High Atlas, Tell Atlas and Saharan Atlas . The latter two ranges are located in Algeria. The Saharan Atlas This Algerian Mountain Range makes up the eastern section of the Atlas Mountains. Djebel Aissa is the tallest peak in the Saharan Atlas, reaching 2236 meters in height. Smaller ranges that make up the Saharan Atlas include Ouled-Nael, Amour and Ksour.

The Saharan Atlas later meets up with the Tell Atlas, forming the T'bessa and Medjerda ranges. Wadis, such as the Touil, run down from the Saharan Atlas. Wadis are riverbeds that only flow in wet seasons. Chaoui Berbers are the chief residents of this mountain range and they live mainly where the landscape makes agriculture possible. The Tell Atlas Measuring some 1500km in length, the Tell Atlas Mountain Range makes its way through Morocco, across Algeria and into Tunisia. The Tell Atlas runs parallel to the Saharan Atlas until it meets in the eastern side of Algeria. Many of Algeria's important cities are located along the Tell Atlas; this includes the capital of Algiers and Oran . The Chelif River runs from the Tell Atlas into the Mediterranean Sea and provides Algeria's inhabitants with a fertile agricultural valley. The Aures Mountains This range forms and extension of the Atlas Mountains. It is located in eastern Algeria just to the east of Algeria's Saharan Atlas. Djebel Chelia, also known as Kaltum, is the tallest peak in this range and reaches a height of 2328 m.

The Aur's Mountains are very isolated and remain the home of the Shawia people. The Ahaggar Mountains (aka Hoggar) Located in the south of Algeria, the Hoggar is a highland area of the central parts of the Sahara. The geography of the region consists mostly of rocky desert. Mount Tahat is the tallest peak of the area, reaching 2918m in height. A common attraction to these Algerian mountains is Assekrem, the place where Le Pere de Foulcault resided in 1905. Due to its less extreme climate, the Hoggar is a region of great biodiversity. The Ahaggar Mountains are the abode of the Imuhagh, who are part of the Tuareg. Nearby is the tomb of Tin Hinan, ancestor and matriarch of the Tuareg people. The Ahaggar region is very popular amongst tourists, with many tour operators visiting the area. The Tassili n' Ajjer Lying in the southeast of Algeria, this Saharan mountain range stretches some 500km. The highest point in the Tassili n'Ajjer range is Adrar Afao at 2158 meters.

As the mountains are chiefly composed of sandstone, many awe-inspiring natural rock arches have formed. Vegetation in the range is mostly scattered woodland. The range is also popular with tourists because of its archeological interest, which includes the brilliant examples of ancient rock art that are found here. Large portions of the range are protected as part of the Tassili n'Ajjer National park . Other Mountains and Ranges Jebel Chenoua, to the west of Algiers, is a mountain group on the coast. Located between Tipaza and Cherchell, Jebel Cheoua is home to Berber speakers. The Gueltara Mountains are in the west of Algeria. The highest point in this small range is 755m high. Tags: User Comments & Reviews: 9 Comment(s) To leave a comment, please sign in using the login box on the right or click here , or sign up here . Page 1 of 2 Atlas Mountains, Morocco Book Atlas Mountains The stunning Atlas Mountain Range stretches 2400km through Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. Divided into sections, the 'High Atlas' in Morocco provide fantastic walking opportunities for all levels.

Think breath-taking views, old world Berber villages and natural charm in abundance. Serious trek or sip mint tea - it's unmissable. ADD TO WISHLIST Situated just 40 miles from Marrakech at the foot ... >> PLACES TO STAY IN Morocco RECOMMENDS We can tailor-make almost any holiday for you, but please feel free to use the our suggested itineraries as a starting point – these are based on many years of experience as a tour operator. Near the Straits of Gibraltar, in Morocco you will experience new exotic sights, sounds and smells. This adventure allows you to discover the best highlights from this exciting country. Visit the pala... Morocco Atlas Mountains - GIS Wiki | The GIS Encyclopedia Atlas Mountains Jump to: navigation , search The Atlas Mountains (Arabic: جبال الأطلس‎, Kabyle: Idurar n leṭles) are a mountain range across a northern stretch of Africa extending about 2,400 km (1,500 miles) through Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. The highest peak is Jbel Toubkal, with an elevation of 4,167 metres (13,671 ft) in southwestern Morocco.

The Atlas ranges separate the Mediterranean and Atlantic coastlines from the Sahara Desert. The population of the Atlas Mountains are mainly Berbers. The terms for 'mountain' in some Berber languages are adrar and adras, believed to be cognate with the toponym. The mountains are divided into additional and separate ranges, including the Middle Atlas, High Atlas, and Anti-Atlas. The lower Tell Atlas running near the coast and the larger Saharan Atlas running further south terminate in the Aurès Mountains located in Algeria and Tunisia. The Atlas Mountains constitute one of the distinct physiographic provinces of the larger African Alpine System division. The mountains are or were home to a number of plant and animal species unqiue in Africa (often more like those of Europe) many of them are endangered and some have already gone extinct.

Examples include the Atlas Cedar, the Atlas Bear (Africa's only species of bear, likely extinct), the Barbary Leopard , the Barbary Macaque , the Atlas mountain viper, the Barbary stag , the Barbary Lion (extinct in the wild), the North African Elephant (extinct), the African Aurochs (extinct), the Northern Bald Ibis, the European Black Pine, the Dippers, the Algerian Oak, and Cuvier's Gazelle. Contents Geology Africa The basement rock of most of Africa was formed in the Precambrian (approximately 4.5 billion years ago) and is much older than the Atlas mountains lying in Africa. The Atlas formed during three subsequent phases of Earth's history. The first tectonic deformation phase involves only the Anti-Atlas, which was formed in the Paleozoic Era (~300 million years ago) as the result of continental collisions. North America, Europe and Africa were connected millions of years ago. The tectonic boundary. The Anti-Atlas mountains are believed to have originally been formed as part of Alleghenian orogeny. These mountains were formed when Africa and America collided, and were once a chain rivaling today's Himalayas .

Today, the remains of this chain can be seen in the Fall line in the eastern United States. Some remnants can also be found in the later formed Appalachians in North America. A second phase took place during the Mesozoic Era (before ~65 My) and consisted of a widespread extension of the Earth's crust that rifted and separated the continents mentioned above. This extension was responsible for the formation of many thick intracontinental sedimentary basins including the present Atlas. Most of the rocks forming the surface of the present High Atlas were deposited under the ocean at that time. Finally, in the Tertiary Era (~65 million to ~1.8 million years ago), the mountain chains that today comprise the Atlas were uplifted as the land masses of Europe and Africa collided at the southern end of the Iberian peninsula. Such convergent tectonic boundaries occur where two plates slide towards each other forming a subduction zone (if one plate moves underneath the other) and/or a continental collision (when the two plates contain continental crust).

In the case of the Africa-Europe collision, it is clear that tectonic convergence is partially responsible for the formation of the High Atlas, as well as for the closure of the Strait of Gibraltar and the formation of the Alps and the Pyrenees . However, there is a lack of evidence for the nature of the subduction in the Atlas region, or for the thickening of the Earth's crust generally associated with continental collisions. In fact, one of the most striking features of the Atlas to geologists is the relative small amount of crustal thickening and tectonic shortening despite the important altitude of the mountain range. Recent studies suggest that deep processes rooted in the Earth's mantle may have contributed to the uplift of the High and Middle Atlas. [1] [2] Natural resources The Atlas are rich in natural resources. There are deposits of iron ore, lead ore, copper, silver, mercury, rock salt, phosphate, marble, anthracite coal, and natural gas among other resources Subranges of the Atlas Mountains High Atlas. The range can be divided into three general regions from west to east: Middle Atlas, High Atlas, and Anti-Atlas (Morocco). Saharan Atlas (Algeria).

Main article: Middle Atlas The Middle Atlas is a portion of the Atlas mountain range lying completely in Morocco. The Middle Atlas is the westernmost of three Atlas Mountains chains that define a large, plateaued basin extending eastward into Algeria. South of the Middle Atlas and separated by the Moulouya and Oum Er-Rbia rivers, the High Atlas stretches for 700 kilometres (430 mi) with a succession of peaks among which ten reach above 4,000 metres (13,000 ft). North of the Middle Atlas and separated by the Sebou River, the Rif mountains are an extension of the Baetic Cordillera (Baetic mountains, which include the Sierra Nevada) in the south of Spain. High Atlas Main article: High Atlas The High Atlas in central Morocco rises in the west at the Atlantic coast and stretches in an eastern direction to the Moroccan-Algerian border. At the Atlantic and to the southwest the range drops abruptly and makes an impressive transition to the coast and the Anti-Atlas range. To the north, in the direction of Marrakech, the range descends less abruptly.

On the heights of Ouarzazate the massif is cut through by the Draa valley which opens southward. In this chaos of rocks the contrasts are astonishing: water runs in some places, forming clear basins. It is mainly inhabited by Berber people, who live in small villages and cultivate the high plains of Ourika Valley. Panoramic picture of the artificial lake of Lalla Takerkoust near Barrage Cavagnac, with the hydroelectric dam (extreme right) Near Barrage Cavagnac, there is a hydroelectric dam that has created the artificial lake Lalla Takerkoust. The lake serves also as a source for fish for the local fishermen. The largest villages and towns of the area are Tahanaoute, Amizmiz, Asni, Tin Mal, Ijoukak, and Oukaïmden. Anti-Atlas ranges Main article: Anti-Atlas The Anti-Atlas extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the southwest of Morocco toward the northeast to the heights of Ouarzazate and further east to the city of Tafilalt (altogether a distance of approximately Template:Convert/LoffAoffDsSoff ). In the south it borders the Sahara.

The easternmost point of the anti-Atlas is the Djebel Sarhro mountains and its eastern boundary is set by sections of the High Atlas range. Saharan Atlas range Main article: Saharan Atlas The Saharan Atlas of Algeria is the eastern portion of the Atlas mountain range. Not as high as the Grand Atlas they are far more imposing than the Tell Atlas range that runs to the north of them and closer to the coast. The tallest peak in the range is the 2,236 m (7,340 ft) high Djebel Aissa. They mark the northern edge of the Sahara Desert. The mountains see some rainfall and are better suited to agriculture than the plateau region to the north. Today most of the population of the region are Berbers. Tell Atlas range Main article: Tell Atlas Panoramic view of typical Berber village (Morocco - High Atlas Mountains). The Tell Atlas is a mountain chain over 1,500 kilometres (930 mi) in length, belonging to the Atlas mountain ranges and stretching from Morocco, through Algeria to Tunisia. It parallels the Mediterranean coast.

Together with the Saharan Atlas to the south it forms the northernmost of two more or less parallel ranges which gradually approach one another towards the east, merging in Eastern Algeria. At the western ends at the Middle Atlas range in Morocco. The area immediately to the south of this range is high plateau, with lakes in the wet season and salt flats in the dry. Aurès mountain range Main article: Aurès Mountains The Aurès Mountains of Algeria and Tunisia are the furthest eastern portion of the Atlas mountain range. See also Atlas Mountains, Tunisia Tourist Information Locals and travelers to connect with About Tunisia 31.0619-7.9161 The Atlas Mountains is a mountain range across a northern stretch of Africa extending about 2,500 km (1,600 mi) through Morocco , Algeria , and Tunisia . The highest peak is Toubkal, with an elevation of 4,167 metres (13,671 ft) in southwestern Morocco. The Atlas ranges separate the Mediterranean and Atlantic coastlines from the Sahara Desert. The population of the Atlas Mountains are mainly Berbers.

The terms for 'mountain' in some Berber languages are adrar and adras, believed to be cognate with the toponym. The mountains have been home to a number of plant and animal species unique in Africa, often more like those of Europe ; many of them are endangered and some have already gone extinct. Examples include the Barbary Macaque, the Atlas Bear (Africa's only species of bear; now extinct), the Barbary Leopard, the Barbary stag, Barbary Sheep, the Barbary Lion (extinct in the wild), the Atlas Mountain Badger, the North African Elephant (extinct), the African Aurochs (extinct), Cuvier's Gazelle, the Northern Bald Ibis, Dippers, the Atlas mountain viper, the Atlas Cedar, the European Black Pine, and the Algerian Oak. Map Atlas Mountains - 必应 Atlas Copco in your country We develop innovative sustainable solutions that create value for our customers in more than 180 countries. Our expertise is ... With snow-capped peaks, lush valleys & traditional mud-built Berber villages, the Atlas Mountains offer superb trekking and a wonderful respite from the madness, heat ...

The Atlas Mountains (Arabic: جبال الأطلس) are a series of mountain peaks that run along the northwestern portion of the African continent, extending through ... Atlas Mountains Atlas Mountains The Atlas Mountains ( Arabic : جبال الأطلس) are a mountain range across a northern stretch of Africa extending about 2,500 km (1,500 miles) through Morocco , Algeria , and Tunisia . The highest peak is Jbel Toubkal, with an elevation of 4167 metres (13671 ft) in southwestern Morocco. The Atlas ranges separate the Mediterranean and Atlantic coastlines from the Sahara Desert. The population of the Atlas Mountains are mainly Berbers. The terms for 'mountain' in some Berber languages are adrar and adras, believed to be cognate with the toponym. The mountains are divided into additional and separate ranges, including the Middle Atlas, High Atlas, and Anti-Atlas. The lower Tell Atlas running near the coast and the larger Saharan Atlas running further south terminate in the Aurès Mountains located in Algeria and Tunisia. The Atlas Mountains constitute one of the distinct physiographic provinces of the larger African Alpine System division.

The mountains are or were home to a number of plant and animal species unique in Africa (often more like those of Europe) many of them are endangered and some have already gone extinct. Examples include the Atlas Cedar , the Atlas Bear (Africa's only species of bear, which is now extinct), the Barbary Leopard, the Barbary Macaque, the Atlas mountain viper, the Barbary stag, Barbary Sheep, the Barbary Lion (extinct in the wild), the North African Elephant (extinct), the African Aurochs (extinct), the Northern Bald Ibis, the European Black Pine, the Dippers , the Algerian Oak, and Cuvier's Gazelle. Geology The basement rock of most of Africa was formed in the Precambrian (approximately 4.5 billion years ago) and is much older than the Atlas mountains lying in Africa. The Atlas formed during three subsequent phases of Earth's history. The first tectonic deformation phase involves only the Anti-Atlas, which was formed in the Paleozoic Era (~300 million years ago) as the result of continental collisions . North America , Europe and Africa were connected millions of years ago.

The Anti-Atlas mountains are believed to have originally been formed as part of Alleghenian orogeny. These mountains were formed when Africa and America collided, and were once a chain rivaling today's Himalayas . Today, the remains of this chain can be seen in the Fall line in the eastern United States . Some remnants can also be found in the later formed Appalachians in North America. A second phase took place during the Mesozoic Era (before ~65 My) and consisted of a widespread extension of the Earth's crust that rifted and separated the continents mentioned above. This extension was responsible for the formation of many thick intracontinental sedimentary basins including the present Atlas. Most of the rocks forming the surface of the present High Atlas were deposited under the ocean at that time. Finally, in the Tertiary Era (~65 million to ~1.8 million years ago), the mountain chains that today comprise the Atlas were uplifted as the land masses of Europe and Africa collided at the southern end of the Iberian peninsula . Such convergent tectonic boundaries occur where two plates slide towards each other forming a subduction zone (if one plate moves underneath the other) and/or a continental collision (when the two plates contain continental crust).

In the case of the Africa-Europe collision, it is clear that tectonic convergence is partially responsible for the formation of the High Atlas, as well as for the closure of the Strait of Gibraltar and the formation of the Alps and the Pyrenees . However, there is a lack of evidence for the nature of the subduction in the Atlas region, or for the thickening of the Earth's crust generally associated with continental collisions. In fact, one of the most striking features of the Atlas to geologists is the relative small amount of crustal thickening and tectonic shortening despite the important altitude of the mountain range. Recent studies suggest that deep processes rooted in the Earth's mantle may have contributed to the uplift of the High and Middle Atlas. Natural resources The Atlas are rich in natural resources . There are deposits of iron ore , lead ore , copper , silver , mercury, rock salt , phosphate , marble , anthracite coal , and natural gas among other resources Subranges of the Atlas Mountains The range can be divided into three general regions from west to east: Middle Atlas, High Atlas, and Anti-Atlas (Morocco). Saharan Atlas (Algeria). Tell Atlas (Algeria, Tunisia).

Middle Atlas range The Middle Atlas is a portion of the Atlas mountain range lying completely in Morocco. The Middle Atlas is the westernmost of three Atlas Mountains chains that define a large, plateaued basin extending eastward into Algeria. South of the Middle Atlas and separated by the Moulouya and Oum Er-Rbia rivers, the High Atlas stretches for 700 kilometres (435 mi) with a succession of peaks among which ten reach above 4000 metres (13123 ft). North of the Middle Atlas and separated by the Sebou River, the Rif mountains are an extension of the Baetic Cordillera (Baetic mountains, which include the Sierra Nevada) in the south of Spain. High Atlas The High Atlas in central Morocco rises in the west at the Atlantic coast and stretches in an eastern direction to the Moroccan-Algerian border. At the Atlantic and to the southwest the range drops abruptly and makes an impressive transition to the coast and the Anti-Atlas range. To the north, in the direction of Marrakech , the range descends less abruptly. On the heights of Ouarzazate the massif is cut through by the Draa valley which opens southward.

In this chaos of rocks the contrasts are astonishing: water runs in some places, forming clear basins. It is mainly inhabited by Berber people, who live in small villages and cultivate the high plains of Ourika Valley. Near Barrage Cavagnac, there is a hydroelectric dam that has created the artificial lake Lalla Takerkoust. The lake serves also as a source for fish for the local fishermen. The largest villages and towns of the area are Tahanaoute, Amizmiz, Asni, Tin Mal, Ijoukak, and Oukaïmden. Anti-Atlas ranges The Anti-Atlas extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the southwest of Morocco toward the northeast to the heights of Ouarzazate and further east to the city of Tafilalt (altogether a distance of approximately 500 kilometres (311 mi)). In the south it borders the Sahara. The easternmost point of the anti-Atlas is the Djebel Sarhro mountains and its eastern boundary is set by sections of the High Atlas range. Saharan Atlas range The Saharan Atlas of Algeria is the eastern portion of the Atlas mountain range.

Not as high as the Grand Atlas they are far more imposing than the Tell Atlas range that runs to the north of them and closer to the coast. The tallest peak in the range is the 2236 m (7336 ft) high Djebel Aissa. They mark the northern edge of the Sahara Desert . The mountains see some rainfall and are better suited to agriculture than the plateau region to the north. Today most of the population of the region are Berbers. Tell Atlas range The Tell Atlas is a mountain chain over 1500 kilometres (932 mi) in length, belonging to the Atlas mountain ranges and stretching from Morocco, through Algeria to Tunisia. It parallels the Mediterranean coast. Together with the Saharan Atlas to the south it forms the northernmost of two more or less parallel ranges which gradually approach one another towards the east, merging in Eastern Algeria. At the western ends at the Middle Atlas range in Morocco. The area immediately to the south of this range is high plateau, with lakes in the wet season and salt flats in the dry. Aurès mountain range The Aurès Mountains of Algeria and Tunisia are the furthest eastern portion of the Atlas mountain range.

(Wikipedia) Moroccan Mountains - Atlas Mountains - Rif Mountains Moroccan Mountains Villas Share The Moroccan mountains stretch across the core of the country, and some can also be found in the northern regions. There are a few main mountain ranges in Morocco, and the Atlas Mountains are king. This range actually stretches across much of northern Africa, extending into Algeria and Tunisia. Of the all the mountains in Morocco, none is taller than Jebel Toubkal, which tops out at 13,671 feet above sea level. Jebel Toubkal can be found in the High Atlas Mountains, and it is one of the most popular side-trip destinations from Marrakech . The Atlas Mountains in Morocco are divided into sub ranges, and these ranges combine to form one long stretch of picturesque peaks. The tallest of this range's peaks can be found in the High Atlas sub range. Due to the high elevation of the High Atlas Mountains, they are often draped in snow. Between the months of November and April, skiing is actually possible at the resort town of Oukaimeden. This winter ski resort can be found in the Ourika Valley , which is one of the most impressive natural attractions in the country.

While skiing is the activity of choice in the High Atlas Mountains, hiking is the top activity when the weather warms. Hiking can actually be enjoyed year round in the Moroccan mountains, though it is arguably best enjoyed in the spring and summer. During spring in the mountains in Morocco, the wildflowers start to bloom, which is why it is a good time to go hiking in the Moroccan mountains. Summer is also ideal for a mountain escape, whether hiking is part of the plan or not. It gets hot in the Moroccan lowlands in the summer, so many natives and tourists alike head to the highlands to enjoy the cooler air. While the High Atlas Mountains are the mountains of choice for Marrakech visitors, anyone who is spending time in Casablanca or Rabat will find the Middle Atlas Mountains easier to reach. Fes is even closer to this sub range, whose jewel is the Ifrane National Park. This park is largely covered by cedar forests, and the fragrant scents from the cedar trees are intoxicating. While exploring the park, visitors will want to keep an eye out for the indigenous Barbary macaque monkeys, which are endangered.

The town of Ifrane near the park functions as an upscale ski resort in the winter, and it is also home to a prestigious university that isn't cheap. Morocco Map The Atlas Mountains turn into foothills to the south, eventually meeting flatter ground, and this region is known as the Anti Atlas sub range. As for the Moroccan mountains in the northern part of the country, they are part of two different mountain ranges. The Rif Mountains cover much of the northern part of the country, and this range is a popular side trip destination for travelers who are spending time in destinations such as Tangier and Tamuda Bay . In addition to being ideal for hiking and general sightseeing, these northern mountains in Morocco also provide a scenic backdrop for the area towns and cities. In the town of Martil, which is a popular summer vacation destination, the Rif Mountains meet the sea, providing a very scenic panorama. The Moroccan mountains have a lot to do with the country's increasing popularity as a vacation destination. Various tours offer excursions into the mountains in Morocco for those who don't want to go it alone, though there are plenty of inviting mountain towns and cities where travelers can base themselves if they want to enjoy more than a day trip into the highlands.

In the summer months, spending a few days on the Morocco beaches and then heading to the mountains to savor the cooler air can give travelers a true sense of how truly dynamic this country is. Throw in a camel trek through the Sahara Desert in Merzouga , and it only becomes more apparent why travelers are increasingly putting Morocco high on their lists of places to go. Compare Travel Sites and Save! Northern Africa: Algeria and Morocco and Tunisia | Ecoregions | WWF x Temperate Coniferous Forest Northern Africa: Algeria and Morocco and Tunisia Scattered through North Africa (and southernmost mountains of Cádiz and Málaga in Spain), Mediterranean Conifer and Mixed Forests grow on high elevations of major mountain massifs. Relict stands of these fir and pine forests are endemic, and survive in small, isolated locations. The flowering plants on these ranges have high rates of endemism, with over 450 strictly endemic plant species, as a result of the long isolation of Holarctic taxa at these high elevations. The faunal diversity is the greatest in the Palearctic realm, with a mixture of Palearctic, Afrotropical and more restricted North African taxa.

Mammals found in this region include the only African endemic species of deer, Cervus elaphus barbarus, the Barbary leopard (Panthera pardus panthera), the Barbary macaque (Macaca sylvanus), and before its extinction in the 1930s, the Atlas lion (Panthera leo leo). One strict endemic bird species, the Algerian nuthatch (Sitta ledanti), is also found. These forests have been utilized since ancient Roman times but deforestation has increased dramatically in the past century. Human impact is significant, compounded by the socio-economic instability of the Maghreb countries. Scientific Code Description Location and General Description The Mediterranean Conifer and Mixed Forest ecoregion is scattered geographically. These forests occur in the humid and very humid, medium to high elevations of major mountain massifs in North Africa (Ozenda 1975, Dallman 1998). They are found in northern Morocco, northern Algeria, and northwestern Tunisia. In Morocco, this forest ecoregion can be found on the Rif, with its highest elevation at 2,448 m on Mt.

Tidirhin, and in the Middle Atlas, with its highest elevation at 3,340 m on Mt. Bou Naceur. In northern Algeria, examples of this ecoregion occur in the Tellien Atlas and the Saharan Atlas Mountain Ranges at about 2,000 m. In northwestern Tunisia, this Mediterranean conifer and mixed forest can be found in the Kroumerie and Mogod Mountain Ranges at their highest elevations of around 1,000 m (Schoenenberger 1995). Even though they lack high elevations, the Tunisian examples are included because their mixed deciduous and evergreen oak forests were once representative of this ecoregion. The ecoregion receives an average annual rainfall of 1,000 mm, but in certain high elevations average annual rainfall can range between 1,600 to 2,200 mm. Snow falls frequently during winter, and average minimum temperatures are below 0° C (average minimum is -5° C in Djebel Babor, northeastern Algeria) (Djellouli 1990).

The North African Mountains are of alpine orogenic origin and contain a complex lithological composition, including sedimentary rocks such as sandstone, dolomite, limestone and marl, crystalline metamorphic rocks such as quartzite and schist, as well as igneous granites and volcanic formations. The landform is characterized by steep, high elevations, mainly related to the calcareous massifs, and by the alternation of mountain summits and high plateaus from about 500 to 1,200 m high. This particular landform pattern, together with the distance of the Middle Altas and Saharian Atlas from sea influence, creates an intense continental gradient. As a result, sharp changes in microclimates and vegetation are seen between the northern humid slopes and the cold, dry southern slopes (Charco 1999). The wide elevational range of this ecoregion produces two major forest zones. The conifer zone includes the higher elevations from 1,200 to 2,500 m and a mixed broadleaf zone, which includes the lowland and medium elevation from the sea to about 1,500 m (Quézel 1983).

The dominant canopy tree species of the montane conifer forests is the endemic Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica), which normally constitutes mixed stands with the evergreen holm oak (Quercus ilex subsp. ballota) and less frequently with deciduous oak species (Quercus faginea, Q. canariensis). The Atlas cedar forests extend over 150 km2 in the Rif Mountains and 1,000 km2 in the Middle Atlas (Benabid and Fennane 1994). In the Tellien Atlas, they form very scattered populations stretching 300 km2. Moreover, endangered relic and endemic fir forests (Abies numidica in the Algerian mountains Djebel Babor and Tababort; Abies marocana in the Moroccan Rif range), and pine forests (Pinus nigra subsp. mauretanica in the Moroccan Rif and the Algerian Djurdjura, and Pinus pinaster subsp. hamiltonii var.

Maghrebiana in the Rif and Middle Atlas), are today represented by only few hundred to a few thousand hectares (A fir species, Abies pinsapo, closely related to the Moroccan fir, characterizes three relict forest areas in South Spain (the Sierras of Grazalema, Sierra de las Nieves, and Bermeja), that are very similar to the North African fir forests from an ecological and bioclimatic point of view (Barbéro and Quézel 1975, Franco 1986, Charco 1999). The Atlas cedar forests are characterized by the presence of a significant number of unique ecotypes of sub-Mediterranean and Euro-Siberian tree and shrub species, which reach their southernmost range limits here. These include Taxus baccata, Sorbus aria, S. torminalis, Acer opalus subsp. granatensis, A. campestre, A. monspessulanum, Prunus mahaleb, P. insititia, Ilex aquifolium, Betula pendula subsp. fontqueri, Populus tremula, Lonicera etrusca, and L. arborea.

Juniper (Juniperus thurifera) woodlands, more frequently distributed in the Mediterranean High Atlas Conifer and Evergreen Broadleaf Woodlands ecoregion, also appear in certain high elevations of the Moroccan Middle Atlas and the Algerian Aurès Ranges. Above the timberline, which reaches 2,700 m in Morocco and 2,100 m in Algeria, the vegetation is very rich in endemic species, dominated by cushion and thorny shrublands (Astragalus boissieri, A. numidicus, Vella mairei, and Arenaria pungens) and meadows (Festuca algeriensis and Festuca desertii) (Quézel, 1981). Broadleaf mixed oak forests are dominant at medium and low elevations on humid slopes and valleys in the coastal and less continental Rif, Tellien Atlas, and Kroumerie-Mogod mountain ranges. The North African oak forests are dominated by Quercus canariensis , which mainly grows on siliceous substrates in humid climates.

This area receives an average of 900 mm of annual rainfall and frequent mists from the sea to about 1,500 to 1,900 m. This oak species forms large forest stands in the Tellien Altas and Kroumerie Mountains that define the northern border between Algeria and Tunisia. Quercus canariensis spreads into the more continental Middle Atlas and High Atlas mountain massifs where it constitutes small thickets in wet valleys. Other deciduous oak species rarely form large forest stands, and grow in few areas of this terrestrial ecoregion. For example, Quercus faginea and Q. pyrenaica forests are extensively distributed in the Iberian Deciduous Mixed Forests ecoregion, but occupy only about 250 km2 in a few areas of the Rif Mountains.

The Quercus afares forests, an endemic species growing in the Kabylie Mountains in Algeria and the Krumerie Mountains in Tunisia cover only about 100 km2 in total (Another rare and endemic oak species, Quercus lusitanica, which defines shrub communities, is found only in the very windy summits of medium elevations that typify both sides of the Strait of Gibraltar, and all along the Atlantic coastal mountains of the Iberian Peninsula. Pinus pinaster subsp. hamiltonii var. Maghrebiana characterizes certain highly diverse mixed oak and pine forest stands, which spread in the low elevations of the Algerian coastal Kabilye in a humid and warm climate (Charco 1999, WWF MedPO 2001). A very rich evergreen and subtropical mixing of small trees and high shrubs characterize the broadleaf mixed oak forests. These include Laurus nobilis, Arbutus unedo, Erica arborea, Ilex aquifolium, Phillyrea latifolia, P. angustifolia, Viburnum tinus, Cytisus villosus, and Myrtus communis.

There is a representative liana layer that includes Lonicera periclymenum subsp. hispanica, Smilax aspera subsp. mauretanica, Rubia peregrina var. longifolia, Hedera helix, H. algeriensis, and a number of Tertiary relicts, such as Prunus lusitanica. The herbaceous layer normally includes many species that also characterize the moist conifer mountain forests, and some other endemic and more thermophilous taxa, such as Cyclamen africanum, Acanthus mollis, Gallium elipticum, Vicia atlantica, Saxifraga atlantica, and Myosotis collina (Mediouni 2000). Biodiversity Features The rate of endemism in the total flowering plants is higher than 20 percent on the main mountain ranges (the Rif, the Middle Atlas, and the Tellien Atlas) where these forests grow. The Middle Atlas Range has 237 endemic plant species, the Rif Massif has at least 190 endemics, and the Tellien Atlas contains 91 endemic plants.

The high rate of endemism is partly the result of the long isolation of Holartic taxa in the high elevations of these North African mountain ranges. Here, they have been able to speciate into new forms, partly due to the presence of Tertiary relict plant groups in this area. All pine, cedar and fir species that characterize the North African conifer forests are endemic to the ecoregion. The Mediterranean moist conifer forests are also rich in endemic plant species that characterize the forest understory. These include Paeonia maroccana, P. corallina, Doronicum atlanticum, Calamintha baborensis, Cynosurus balansa, Geranium malviflorum, Rubia laevis, Scilla hispanica susbsp.

algeriensis, Senecio perralderanius, Satureja baborensis, Viola nymbiana, Crataegus laciniata, Cotoneaster atlanticus, Cytisus megalanthus, Lonicera kabylica, and Argyrocytisus battandieri (Mediouni and Boutemine 1988, Mediouni and Yahi 1989, Charco 1999). Many plant taxa found in these forest ecosystems have a restricted distribution range, and are included as threatened species in the 1997 IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants. The total number of threatened plant species in Morocco is 186 species; Algeria 141 species; and Tunisia, 24 species. Abies maroccana, with a total range of 40 km2 in the Rif, and Abies numidica, with only 3 km2 in the Kabylie, are two endangered tree species from this ecoregion, that should also be highlighted on the IUCN Red List.

The fauna diversity of the North African moist conifer and broadleaf mixed forests can be considered among the most significant of the Palearctic. They represented the last refuge of the Atlas lion (Panthera leo subsp. leo), which survived in the wild until 1930. A number of rare and endemic mammals are still present in these conifer forests, including the threatened Barbary macaque (Macaca sylvanus), and the last individuals of the Barbary leopard (Panthera pardus subsp. panthera). Other species comprise a mixture of Palaearctic, African, and more restricted North African taxa, such as the Maghrebian wild cat (Felis libyca), the red fox (Vulpes vulpes), the common jackal (Canis aureus), the Algerian hedgehog (Erinaceus algirus), the wild boar (Sus scrofa) and the polecat ferret (Mustela putorius) Nowell et al.

1996, Charco 1999, Blondel and Aronson 1999) The extensive mixed Quercus canariensis and Quercus suber forests of the Tellien Atlas and Kroumerie Mountains on the border between Algeria and Tunisia host the last existing populations of the only African endemic deer species, Cervus elaphus susbsp. barbarus. This endangered species was once broadly distributed in the conifer and broadleaf forests from Morocco to Libya. These oak forests are also the last refuge for the serval (Felis serval), which has been almost extirpated in the Mediterranean region. The moist conifer and broadleaf mixed forest ecosystems contain one endemic bird, the endangered Algerian nuthatch (Sitta ledanti) (Stattersfield et al. 1998) which is found in Djebel Babor and a few other Algerian forest areas. According to some bird taxonomists the North African woodpecker (Picus vaillantii) is also recognized as an endemic species, although others regard it as a subspecies of green woodpecker (Picus viridis levaillanti).

The forests also provide habitat for raptors including golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), Bonelli’s eagle (Hieraaetus fasciatus), booted eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus), red kite (Milvus milvus), and long-legged buzard (Buteo rufinus). Some species of Palearctic birds also have their southernmost distribution range in these forests, including the lesser spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos minor) and the great spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) The Rif and Algeciras Mountains on both sides of the Gibraltar Strait and the Middle Atlas Mountain lakes are crucial for large-scale bird migrations to and from northern Europe to Africa. Among the invertebrate fauna of the moist conifer forests, there is high species richness among butterflies, including several endemics such as the Moroccan grayling (Pseudochazara atlantis), which is mostly found in Jbel Lakraa, the Donzel’s Silver-line (Cigaritis zohra), and Martin’s blue (Plebejus martini).

Endemic reptiles are also found in some mountain areas containing conifer and broadleaf oak forest, including Lataste's lizard (Lacerta pater), Chalcides montanus, Koelliker's glass lizard (Ophisaurus koellikeri), and mountain viper (Vipera monticola). Among amphibians, the most representative species of this ecoregion also characterize similar forest ecosystems - mountain conifer and broadleaf mixed forests - from the southern European Mediterranean countries. These include European fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra), olive midwife toad (Alytes obstetricans), and Mediterranean treefrog (Hyla meridionalis) (Blondel and Aronson 1999). Current Status It is difficult to establish a reliable chronology for the intense forest clearance of the North African moist conifer and broadleaf mixed forests. Forest stands of considerable size occurred in this region in Roman times (as it is reported by Strabo, Herodotus and Pliny) and in medieval times (as it is reported from the descriptions written by Leo Africanus).

These medieval forests remained plentiful enough that Fez could serve as a major lumber center until the twelfth century, deriving its timber from both the Rif and the Middle Atlas Mountains. Pollen evidence indicates considerable clearing and widespread deforestation from about 1600 to 1900, presumably through the advent of livestock raising and settlement in the mountains. Some statistics indicate very rapid deforestation in the twentieth century in the three countries of this ecoregion. A quarter of Morocco’s forests --10,000 km2--vanished between 1940 and 1982. Algeria, far more than Morocco or Tunisia, felt the environmental consequences of colonization, which involved huge deforestation. Even in the Tunisian mountains, forest cover shrank by one-third between 1919 and 1970 (Brandt and Thornes 1996). In comparison with the estimated original forest cover, the Maghreb countries have lost 75 percent of their cedar forests, 3,300 km2 in Morocco and about 1,000 km2 in Algeria.

The Rif lost 1,000 km2 of high forests between 1956 and 1971. This amounts to about 73 percent of this region’s total forest cover during the Spanish Protectorate. As a result, today the Rif looses soil faster than any other area in the Mediterranean region. Few of the existing protected areas in this ecoregion have management plans, and fewer still have implemented them. Key protected areas include El Feija National Park in Tunisia, Chrea National Park, Djurdjura National Park and biosphere reserve in Algeria, and Ifrane Forest Reserve and Tazekka National Park in Morocco. All three countries intend to increase the protected areas network; especially Morocco where 154 natural sites have been identified and designated as candidate new protected areas (Ministère de l’Agriculture et de la mise en valeur agricole 1992). Generally, there are lack of resources (human, financial, and equipment) as well as knowledge (species, habitat distribution, and ecology) to help implement adequate conservation and sustainable use programs.

Furthermore, habitats and species populations are not adequately represented to secure their long-term survival and the maintenance of the ecological processes related to them. A number of programs are in place to try to identify and protect the most important places for biodiversity conservation in the ecoregion. Through collaboration with regional experts from research and governmental institutions and NGOs, the WWF Mediterranean Program Office has identified a number of Important Forest Areas. These constitute well-preserved forest stands with high biodiversity values in urgent need of protection. The same WWF office, in close collaboration with the Tunisian Forestry Department, has also been active in El Feija National Park, developing a number of environmental education, conservation (mainly related to the endangered and endemic Barbary deer (Cervus elaphus barbarus), and sustainable development activities. Recently, the WWF Mediterranean office has launched a conservation initiative called "Green Belts against Desertification," a 5-year program to apply ecoregion conservation at a landscape level.

There are two areas where WWF will be active: the "Kroumerie-Mogod Green Belt" in Tunisia (which includes El Feija National Park and all the Tunisian Important Forest Areas related to this ecoregion) and the "Middle Atlas Green Belt" in Morocco which includes Tazekka National Park and a number of other important sites. In Morocco, the Water and Forest Directorate of the Forests and Water Ministry has recently identified 154 Sites of Biological and Ecological Interest, which basically correspond with the Moroccan Important Forest Areas. The Moroccan Government has also recently launched a World Bank/Global Environment Facility project on biodiversity conservation. The goal is to enlarge the national protected areas network, create new national parks, declare a number of these priority sites as nature reserves, and improve the management systems of 13 areas, by establishing management plans, improving local capacity, and involving local populations in nature resource management. The Algerian government also has plans to enlarge the Protected Areas Network and to classify a number of key areas, such as Djebel Babor, as a nature reserve.

In addition, a biodiversity strategy and action plan has been prepared, in which attention has been given to the design and management of protected areas in the country for the coming years. The Tunisian Government, the World Bank, and UNDP, also have plans to develop a number of conservation and development activities in key forest sites in the northwestern part of Tunisia (El Feija National Park). Types and Severity of Threats Deforestation has been extensive through the ecoregion. Today, human impact is still high, mainly due to the socio-economic instability of the Maghreb countries. The collapse of the semi-nomadic Berber pastoral system has transformed summer camps in the high mountain grasslands into permanent human settlements. A large amount of firewood is collected, in many cases illegally. Intensive collection of cedar branches frequently kills the trees. Furthermore, the need for livestock fodder during winter gives rise to extensive overgrazing and soil degradation in the forest understory. Overgrazing and land conversion into agriculture is also an important human impact in the broadleaf forest area. (Thirgood 1981, Médail and Quézel 1997).

Kif (Cannabis sativa) cultivation in the Rif Mountains is an important source of revenue for local people. During the 1960s, 85 percent of all income in some villages of the region was derived from this crop. Today, people make quick money by cutting and selling cedar and fir are for timber, as well as selling kif. Thus, illegal logging is common and is destroying a significant number of old-growth forest stands throughout the ecoregion. Threats in the forested Djebel Babor Nature Reserve (Atlas Tellien, Algeria) and Talassemtane Reserve (Rif, Morocco) consist mostly of fires, overgrazing and illegal logging. In Djebel Babor, the number of Abies numidica trees has decreased by half since the 1950s, and in the Tazaot area in the Rif Mountains a 1977 forest fire destroyed almost all the Abies maroccana var. tazzaota forest stand. The threat from fire is still significant. Plant regeneration is still seriously affected by continuing high pressure from domestic livestock grazing (WWF MedPO 2001).

Uncontrolled medicinal and aromatic plant harvesting constitutes an important threat to the survival of many endemic aromatic species and for the conservation of soil and vegetation cover in many mountain areas. European cosmetic enterprises take advantage of the legislation gaps in the Maghreb countries, promoting the devastation of many natural areas. Mediterranean conifer forests are also extremely threatened by climate change. Intensification of summer droughts and increase in the average annual temperature could strongly modify the bioclimate conditions necessary for survival of these forests. Furthermore, human impacts have considerably reduced the forest’s resilience to survive natural disturbances (Gómez-Campo 1985). During periods of intense drought, cedar forest stands can become very dry and prone to fires. The rural population in this ecoregion is high and still growing in and around protected areas. People’s needs are normally in conflict with protected areas under the existing legislation. Tunisian National Parks are fenced areas where human presence is completely forbidden, and people’s rights of use are not clearly established, resulting in many illegal activities such as logging and overgrazing.

Justification of Ecoregion Delineation This ecoregion follows the vegetation unit that White (1983) defines as ‘Mediterranean montane forest and Altimontane shrubland,’ although the altimontane area (above 3,200 m) was extracted as a separate ecoregion. Lower elevation areas from Tunisia are included because their mixed deciduous and evergreen oak forests were once representative of this ecoregion. The high levels of endemics and relict taxa, particularly among plants, makes this ecoregion distinct (WWF 1998). References Benabid, A. and M. Fennane. 1994. Connaissances sur la végétation du Maroc: phytogégraphie, phytosociologie et sèries de végétation. Lazaroa, 14: 21-97. Blondel, J. and J. Aronson. 1999. Biology and wildlife of the Mediterranean region. Oxford University Press, Oxford. Brandt, C.J. and J.B. Thornes, editors.

1996. Mediterranean Desertification and land use. Wiley, Chichester. Barbéro, M. and P. Quézel. 1975. Les forets de sapin du pourtour méditerranéen. Anales del Instituto Botanico A.J. Cavanilles, 32 (2), 38 pp. Charco J. 1999. El Bosque Mediterraneo en El Norte de Africa. Biodoversita y lucha contra la desertificacion. Agencia espagnola de cooperatioon internacional, Madrid. Dallman, P.R. 1998. Plant Life in the world’s Mediterranean climates. Oxford University Press, Oxford. Djellouli, Y. 1990. Flores et climats en Algérie Septentrionale. Déterminismes climatiques de la répartition des plantes. Thèse Doc. ès Sc. USTHB, Alger Franco, J.A., 1986. Género Abies. Pages 164-167 in S. Castroviejo, editor.

Flora ibérica: plantas vasculares de la Península Ibérica e Islas. Real Jardín Botánico, Madrid. Vol. I Gómez-Campo, C, editor. 1985. Plant conservation in the Mediterranean area. W. Junk Publishers, Dordrecht. Médail, F. and P. Quézel. 1997. Hot-spots analysis for conservation of plant biodiversity in the Mediterranean Basin. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Gardens 84: 112-127. Mediouni, K. and R. Boutemine. 1988. Etude structurale et dynamique du peuplement de pin noir Pinus nigra ssp mauretanica du Djurdjura. Comm. Sem. Dehesas, Espagne. 12pp. Mediouni, K. and N. Yahi. 1989. Etude structurale de la série du cèdre (Cedrus atlantica Manetti) d’Ait Ouabane (Djurdjura).

Forêt Méditerranéenne, 11(2): 103-112. Marseille. Mediouni K. 2000. Bilan, Stratégie et plan d’action d’utilisation durable de la diversité biologique algérienne, Direction Générale de l’Environnement/PNUD-GEF. Ministère de l’Agriculture et de la mise en valeur agricole, 1992. Plan Directeur des Aires Protégées. VOL I, II. Royaume du Maroc. Nowell, K., P. Jackson and IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group, editors. 1996. Wild cats: Status survey and conservation action plan. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland. Ozenda, P. 1975. Sur les étages de végétation dans les montagnes du bassin méditerranéen. Doc. Cartogr. Ecolog. 16: 1-32. Quézel, 1981.

Les hautes montagnes du Maghreb et du Proche Orient : Essai de mise en parallèle des caractères phytogégraphiques. Actas III CONGR:OPTIMA. ANALES JARD. BOT. Madrid 37(2): 353-372 Quézel, P. 1983. Flore et végétation actuelles de l’Afrique du Nord, leur signification en fonction de l’origine, de l’évolution et des migrations des flores et structures de végétation passées. Bothalia, 14:3-4 Schoenenberger, A. 1995. Groupements végétaux des séries de végétation. La végétation forestière. Essai de synthèse sur la végètation et la phyto-écologie tunisiennes, II&III. Programme folore et végétation tunisiennes. Vols. 5 & 6 Stattersfield, A. J., M. J. Crosby, A. J. Long, and D. C. Wedge. 1998.

Endemic Bird Areas of the World. Priorities for biodiversity conservation. BirdLife Conservation Series No. 7. BirdLife International, Cambridge, UK. Thirgood, J.V. 1981. Man and the Mediterranean Forest. Academic Press. New York. White, F. 1983. The vegetation of Africa, a descriptive memoir to accompany the UNESCO/AETFAT/UNSO Vegetation Map of Africa (3 Plates, Northwestern Africa, Northeastern Africa, and Southern Africa, 1:5,000,000). UNESCO, Paris. WWF and IUCN. 1994. Centres of plant diversity. A guide and strategy for their conservation. Volume 1. Europe, Africa, South West Asia and the Middle East. IUCN Publications Unit, Cambridge, U.K. WWF Mediterranean Programme Office. 2001. The Mediterranean Forests. A new conservation strategy. WWF Mediterranean Programme Office. 2001. The major forest types in the Mediterranean. Map. WWF. 1998. A conservation assessment of terrestrial ecoregions of Africa: Draft proceedings of a workshop, Cape Town, South Africa, August 1998.

World Wildlife Fund, Washington, DC, USA. Prepared by: Nora Berrahmouni and Pedro Regato Reviewed by: In progress Our Mountains | Morocco Adventurers Select Page Our Mountains The Atlas mountain range stretches approximately 1,600 miles (2,500 kilometers) across Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia, separating the coastlines of the Mediterranean and Atlantic from the Sahara Desert. Toubkal, located in Morocco, is the highest mountain in the range, and in North Africa. It is 4,167 m high (13,671 ft). The second and third highest peaks in the Atlas range (after Toubkal) are on the mountain Ouanoukrim in Morocco. The two summits are Timzguida which is 4,089 m (13,415 ft) high and Ras Ouanoukrim which reaches 4083 m (13,396 ft). The mountain range has several passes that provide routes between the coast and the Sahara Desert.The slopes of the High Atlas and Middle Atlas ranges have thick forests containing many trees including pine, oak, and cedar trees.

Mineral deposits found in this mountain range include gold, silver, zinc, lead, and iron. The Atlas mountains are divided into four regions: The first region consists of three ranges, all located in Morocco. They are the Middle Atlas, High Atlas, and Anti-Atlas ranges. The High Atlas range (also called the Grand Atlas) is the highest range in the Atlas Mountains. The second region is the Saharan Atlas located in Algeria. The third region is the Tell Atlas located in Algeria and Tunisia. The fourth region is the Aures Mountains in Algeria and Tunisia. They are at the eastern end of the Atlas mountain range. The original people who live in the Atlas Mountain range are called ‘Berber’ (latin) or ‘Amazigh’. They have been traced back to at least 3000 B.C.! The Atlas mountains is a great travel destination for people who enjoy hiking and mountain climbing. It is also a place where tourist can enjoy incredible views. There are also many places where one can enjoy a relaxing vacation.

Question: Which mountain range stretches from Morocco, through Algeria and into Tunisia?
Answer: THE ATLAS MOUNTAINS