The Atlas Mountains are a mountain range in North Africa. Specifically, they are in the Maghreb, a sub-region encompassing Northwest Africa. The mountains stretch through 3 countries: Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia and separate the Mediterranean and Atlantic coastlines from the Sahara Desert.
FORMATION AND RESOURCES
About 300 million years ago, the first stage of the formation of the Atlas Mountains began. During a period of budding amphibians, fish, and mollusks, the Paleozoic Era witnessed continental collisions and the connection of North America, Europe, and Africa.
The second stage of the Atlas Mountains formation occurred during the Mesozoic Era around 66 million years ago. The first mammals appeared on the planet along with dinosaurs. The Earth’s crust separated into the 3 continents we now know.
The Paleogene and Neogene Periods saw the 3rd stage of the Atlas Mountains foundation. This time frame occurred around 1.8 million years ago. The actual uplifting of the mountains occurred during this time.
Many amounts of natural resources live in the Atlas Mountains. Iron ore, copper, silver, marble and natural gas are just a few of these elements.
SUBRANGES
The Atlas Mountains have 6 sub-ranges - Anti-Atlas, High Atlas, Middle Atlas, Tell Atlas, Aurès Mountains, and the Saharan Atlas.
In some contexts the Anti-Atlas is separate from the Atlas Mountains system as the name implies. There are Neolithic cave paintings in this system, which is the final division of the Stone Age. Picturesque kasbahs dot the landscape of the Anti-Atlas, which are used for shelter and supply depots.
The region of the High-Atlas contains the highest and second highest summit in North Africa, Toubkal which measures 13,671 feet and Ighil m’Goun measuring 13,356 feet. At the foot of the High-Atlas lies a fortified village or ksar called Aït Benhaddou that is still in use. This ksar is used so much in movies it is referred to as “Moroccan Hollywood”.
The Middle Atlas is the northernmost and second highest region of the Atlas Mountains. The Middle Atlas is a popular tourist destination because of its biodiversity, both fauna and flora. It is also one of the rare spots on the continent of Africa that contains a ski resort in Ifrane, Morocco.
The Tell Atlas region of the Atlas Mountains runs parallel to the Mediterranean coast. Barley and wheat farming are commonplace farming practices. And the longest river in Algeria - the Chelif River (725 km) - runs through the Tell Atlas and empties into the Mediterranean.
The Aurès Mountains have historically served as a refuge for Berber tribes. They were crucial in protecting these tribes from outside invasions against the Romans, Arabs, and Byzantines. The Aurès contain a large Berber speaking community of Chaoui people.
The last of the six subregions of the Atlas Mountains are the Saharan Atlas. As the name implies the Saharan Atlas Mountains mark the northern edge of the Sahara Desert. This area has long been a home to exiles expelled from the fertile coastal regions.
FLORA AND FAUNA
The flora of the Atlas Mountains contains Atlas cedar, Evergreen Oak, and Algerian Oak. There are an array of animals that call the Atlas Mountains home including gazelles, Barbary sheep and the Atlas Mountains Viper. Many animals used to inhabit the mountains such as the Atlas bear, and the North African elephant, but they are extinct.
CULTURES
There are 3 major cultural groups that live within the Atlas Mountains. All the groups are subgroups of the Berber culture. The Shilha (Ishelhien) people inhabit the southwestern area of the mountains, specifically in the High Atlas and Anti-Atlas regions. About 5 million Shilha live in Morocco and are semi-nomadic farmers.
The Chaoui people inhabit the Aurès region and are mostly shepherds and farmers. They primarily raise sheep and goats, and during the winter, they move their herds to the warm plains, then to higher pastures during the spring and summer months.
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