High Atlas

Lore & Background

The High Atlas forms the basins for a multiplicity of river systems. The majority of the year-round rivers flow to the north, providing the basis for the settlements there. In the steppe zone, where precipitations are low, locals created a technique called Agdal, turning semi-arid lands into fertile valleys. This technique has intrigued many Western agriculturalists, who were impressed by its high efficiency. The range includes Jbel Toubkal, the highest peak, located in Toubkal National Park, created in 1942. The Ourika Valley is the only location in the High Atlas where the endangered Barbary macaque is found.

Reader's Guide

The High Atlas is significant as a climatic and geographic divide in Morocco, influencing weather patterns and supporting diverse ecosystems. Its western portion contains the Ourika Valley, the only location in the High Atlas where the endangered primate, the Barbary macaque, Macaca sylvanus, is found. The range's geology records a complex tectonic history from the Triassic to the Cretaceous, including dinosaur fossils such as Atlasaurus and Tazoudasaurus. The Berber population relies on agriculture and pastoralism in the valleys. The range also hosts winter sports at Oukaïmeden, one of Morocco's three main ski stations. Snow falls regularly in higher elevations, allowing winter sports, and lasts well into late spring, mostly on the northern faces.

Did You Know?

• Jbel Toubkal, at 4,167 m, is the highest peak in the High Atlas and lies in Toubkal National Park, created in 1942.
• The Ourika Valley is the only location in the High Atlas where the endangered Barbary macaque, Macaca sylvanus, is found.
• The dinosaur Atlasaurus, also named Tazoudasaurus, was discovered in the Eastern High Atlas near the village of Tazouda, dating back 180 million years.
• Oukaïmeden is one of three main ski stations in Morocco, located in the Western High Atlas.
• The High Atlas forms basins for many river systems, with most year-round rivers flowing north to support settlements.

Geological Birth Across Three Ages

The Atlas Mountains define an ENE-WSW trending intracontinental belt, resulting from the tectonic inversion of the Late Triassic to Middle Jurassic rift basin during the Cenozoic convergence between the African and Eurasian Plates. The Moroccan Atlas is formed by the ENE-WSW-striking High Atlas and the NE-SW-trending Middle Atlas. The western High Atlas was part of the Atlantic Jurassic passive margin and is separated from the central and eastern High Atlas by the Paleozoic Massif, an area of pre-Mesozoic basement exposures located south of Marrakesh. The central and eastern High Atlas basin developed as a multiphase rift system opened toward the east by two major rift episodes occurring during Middle-Late Triassic and Early Jurassic. At present, the central High Atlas is characterized by a folded domain dominated by NE-SW striking structural highs or ridges separating elongated and wide synclines filled by Early and Middle Jurassic sediments.

Four Ranges, One Continental Spine

The High Atlas is divided into three segments: western, central, and eastern High Atlas. The western High Atlas is the oldest portion, with its high point Jbel Toubkal visible from Marrakesh. The massif consists of Jurassic and Cretaceous formations notched by deep erosion-carved valleys. The central High Atlas is a solid chalk mass morphologically dominated by tabular zones reaching an altitude of 2,500 m, extending from Azilal to Ouarzazate. Several peaks exceed 4,000 m, with Jbel Mgoun at 4068 m being the highest. The eastern High Atlas forms vast plateaux at high altitude providing headwaters for the Moulouya River, extending from the town of Khenifra. This portion includes the solid mass of the Tamlelt with higher peaks such as Jbel Ayachi at 3,747 m.

Biodiversity and Mineral Wealth

The High Atlas has two types of Alpine Climates: Mediterranean climate dominates the north and south of the Western High Atlas until Jbel Toubkal, as well as the northern part of Central High Atlas from Jbel Toubkal until Imilchil. These regions are relatively humid with annual rainfall between 600 and 1,000 mm. Snow falls between November and April, but can persist from September to June in the peaks. Important rivers flow through the valleys, including Asif Melloul, Oued n'Fis, and Oued Tessaout, supplying fertile basins like Aït Bou Guemez and Imilchil. These conditions allow pine, oak and cedar forests, though they are declining due to reducing precipitation, over-exploitation, and overgrazing. Continental semi-arid or steppe climate is present in the southern part of the Central High Atlas and the whole Oriental High-Atlas, marked by variations in temperatures and extending southward into rocky desert.

Berber Heritage and the Name Atlas

The High-Atlas Mountains are inhabited by Berbers, who live from agriculture and pastoralism in the valleys. In the steppe zone, locals created the Agdal technique, turning semi-arid lands into fertile valleys. This technique has intrigued many Western agriculturalists, particularly French scientists, who make yearly expeditions to observe the community and their living system. The range is also home to the Barbary macaque in the Ourika Valley. The name 'Atlas' is associated with the Titan Atlas in classical tradition, but the source does not provide a Berber etymology for the name.