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Morocco boasts a superb variation in terrain and foliage, with fruitful 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 1%
permanent pastures 47%
forests and woodland twenty percent
other 11%

Mountains

there are several superb mountain ranges in Morocco on which you can climb, hike, ski or ride mules.  The fantastic variety of foliage, natural water features and mountain tops is captivating. 

The mountains are typically 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 large variety of migratory birds and birds of prey,eg eagles.  There’s an enormous bird reserve located where the Moulouya brook flows into the Mediterranean sea. 

Amtoudi peak : located 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 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 doesn’t reach higher than 2,531 metres, but it has some extremely craggy landscape.  At the edge of the Anti-Atlas in the extreme south, the scenery is consists of vast, eroded gorges which flow with the streams into the dry, desolate wastes of the Sahara desert. 

Chefchaouen Mountains : located 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 transmit the scent throughout the valley.  At the top of these mountains ( 1,500 meters above sea level ) are two caves utilized 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, near the shore of Mediterranean Morocco where the terrain is rough. 

Sarhro Mountains : found south west of Marrakesh.  They are a wonderful winter trekking destination as the desert cools and the High Atlas Mountains become covered with snow.  It’s a remote area decorated with volcanic obelisks, vegetated plateaux, canyons, little Berber villages and the traveling Ait Atta people.  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, monumental views and mountain long trails for hardened 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, though these have now faded. 

Tan Tan Mountains : located down south.  Renowned for its awfully flat peak and hollowness in some pieces of the mountain. 

brooks

Morocco has the most in depth 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 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 area survive with little water ; some have very deep roots, others have little leaves or spines.  Desert animals must also survive with tiny water and many COMMA eg.  The desert fox, remain concealed in the heat of the day others, for example 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 the majority of the nation’s fruit and veg.  It is well irrigated by the melt water from mountain snows from the Atlas.  Everyday 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 pleasing climate. 

Winters are mild and the summers are hot and dry.  Average daytime temperatures in winter range between sixteen to 23 C and in summer, from thirty three to 42 C.  Like Spain, Morocco has roughly 330 days of sunshine each year. 

Mountain tops are covered with snow for the majority 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 pressure in a variety  number of ways : The increasing number of tourists and the over exploitation of resources such as oil and phosphates could damage the ecosystem in the desert.  Overgrazing and the spread of the desert may also threaten currently productive areas in the future.

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