High Atlas

The High Atlas is a Mountainous chain Morocco groin directed in the direction west-south, and the North-East. This chain belongs to the massive of the Atlas, and more precisely, with the one of the three elements of the Moroccan Atlas - the two others being the Moyen Atlas and the Anti-Atlas.

It is the highest solid mass of North Africa - sometimes called the “roof of Morocco”, or, the “roof of North Africa”. It forms an immense barrier of approximately 750 km which delimits Saharan Morocco of Atlantic Morocco and Mediterranean. It constitutes the showpiece of the altimontain field of this country - whose whole covers: 100200 km ².

Relief

The Relief of the High Atlas is divided into three different entities, of west in is, the High Atlas Western , the High Atlas central and the High Atlas Eastern .

The High Western Atlas

The High Atlas Western is the oldest solid mass, made up of Jurassic or cretaceous formations notched deep valleys. Its culminating point is the Jbel Toubkal with: 4167 meters, visible of Marrakech - what constitutes an additional attraction for this city. The National park of Toubkal was created in 1942, taking into account the biodiversity and of the natural wealth of Jbel Toubkal.

The High central Atlas

The High Atlas central is a calcareous solid mass, morphologiquement dominated by tabular zones culminating with: 2500 meters of altitude, which extends from Azilal to Ouarzazate. The landscapes contrasted there are of an extraordinary beauty, revealing with the visitors of marvellous sites comparable with the American Colorado , with plates of altitude, throats and boxed Canyon S, a chaos of summits shredded by erosion…

The Jbel Mgoun (: 4068 meters) is the top highest of this part of the High Atlas. One meets a Berber population there famous for his exceptional hospitality.

The High Eastern Atlas

The High Atlas Eastern is formed of the vast plates of altitude of high the Moulouya. These plates extend from Midelt - province of Khénifra, sheltering the Jbel Ayachi (: 3747 meters) - with Imilchil - province of Errachidia, where the Jbel Saghro and the Jbel Sirwa are (: 3305 meters) and which includes/understands the old solid mass of Tamlelt whose northern edge is occupied by its more high summits, the such Jbel Ayachi (: 3760 meters).

Altitude weakens towards the east, where the field begins from the Hamada S (pre-Saharan zone).

This solid mass became a paleontological site of international repute, following the surprising discovery of the bones of a completely unknown dinosaur, the Atlasasurus, which populated Morocco 180 million years ago. This dinosaur of approximately nine meters length is baptized Tazoudasaurus naïmi, of the name of the village of Tazouda where it was discovered (to 70 km of the town of Ouarzazate). It could be well the “ancestor” of the Sauropode S of North America, which them, have only 140 million years - one time when the North Africa and the American continent were welded.

Climate

The High Atlas comprises two types of mountain climates from which the transition from the one to the other is rather clear:

- One subtropical oceanic : appears on the slopes north and south of the Western part (until Jbel Toubkal) as well as the northern slope of the central part (of Toubkal until Imilchil). Exposed to the disturbances coming from the Atlantic, they are relatively wet with spaced but sometimes torrential precipitations. It falls up to 50 cm from water per annum on average. The estival dryness, intersected with rare storms, is intense. Snowing up is generally tough above 2500 to 3500 meters from November to April (with large variations according to the exposure). Some rivers are never drained (asif Melloul, wadi Did not make, Tessaout wadi…), feeding from the rather fertile basins of altitude: Has Bou Guemez, Imilchil… These conditions allow the existence of the forest (pines, holm oaks, thujas…) but this one declines because of triple effect of the draining of the climate, overexploitation (heating and construction) and of the ovine overgrazing.

- The other semi-desert continental : it appears on the southern slope of the central part (of Toubkal with Imilchil) and all the oriental party (beyond of Imilchil), with marked thermal amplitudes. Extend from high steppes, the sand and stone deserts more rarely, and some valleys provided out of water where agriculture, very localized, is possible. The forest is quasi absent.

Biodiversity High Atlas

Fauna

; Mammals:

The cat-like ones: The lynx caracal, as well as the leopard of berbery exists, but in a zone very limited. The Mammifère S currents are especially the night ones: Weasel, Jackal, Fox and Porcupine. The Sanglier S are very widespread in the oak groves. The Mouflon is visible only between: 2000 and: 4000 Mr. the squirrel of gétulie is observed easily. The Nest egg, a monkey of the family of the macaques, attends the throats of the High-Atlas and the cedar plantations of the Means-Atlas.

; Reptiles and fish:

The Couleuvre S are present until in high mountain, while one finds one Reptile poisonous, the Vipère of lataste (long from 30 to 40 cm). When with the Trout S, they live in altitude in the brooks.

; Birds:

One finds many Rapace S, like the wild tube, the eagle boot, the circaète, the sparrowhawk, the kestrel, the Faucon pilgrim and until: 4000 m, the golden eagle or the gypaète. One can also observe the Pigeon biset. Two species are common to the areas mountainous of the Middle East: the bullfinch with pink wings and the lark rise-collar, identifiable with the yellow feathers of its head. The migratory birds cross the chain of the Atlas, in spring and in autumn, at high altitudes. The pipit of close niche in Europe and spends the winter in the low valleys of the Atlas.

Flora

The vegetation presents in a way staged between the plain and the mountain. On the first floor (850 with: 1200 m), the Doum (dwarf palm tree) close with the Thuja to cruelty, the Caroubier, the wild olive-tree, the Pistachio tree mastic tree and the rose laurel. Y abound lavenders, cistuses and brooms. Sometimes, the thuja is associated with various kinds of genévriers. On average mountain (: 1000 with: 2000 m), moisture increase and the holm oak dominates, mixed red genévriers.

On the high plateaus and the high valleys (: 2000 with: 2500 m), the trees disappear, replaced by brooms and plants buissonnantes. The only one which remains is the thuriferous genévrier on the slopes north or west. In March and until June, a wet lawn appears on the plates, brightened narcisses. Only the thorny bearings are maintained in high mountain (from: 2500 m): the alysson with the gray sheets, the Buplèvre, the laburnum of balancsa, a yellow broom with flowers, the prickly Sabine.

Above: 3600 m, the bearings disappear and the vegetation is absent. The leucanthème of the Atlas, a violet with thick sheets, flowers at the top of Toubkal. The vegetation was degraded by the man is his herds, at the point to more be able to regenerate itself. Formerly with beautiful oak groves were to cover the slopes of the Atlas, today one tries to retimber them, seems it successfully, with plantations of pines of Alep.

Exposure

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