Morocco’s Atlas Mountains

Atlas Mountains are massive in size. They have a span of about 1,500 miles in total and are located in Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia. They are a paradise for mountain climbers. The mountains consist of High, Middle and Anti Atlas.

High Atlas
This is North Africa’s highest mountain. Only the most experienced climbers should attempt to conquer this beast. It is 4,167 meters high and has snow capped peaks year round. Because of the regular snowfall, it is a favorable place for a variety of winter sports. There are many basins located here which contribute to the many settlements found in the area.

Middle Atlas
The entire part of this mountain is located in Morocco. It consists mostly of limestone. Of the Atlas Mountain chains it is the most northern and western part of the three. Much of the mountain consists of forests which make it a great place to go hunting.

Anti Atlas
This part of the chain extends to Ouarzazate from the Atlantic Ocean. Part of the southern part of the mountain borders the Sahara Desert. In general the area is pretty desolate with its dry, barren land. There are very few houses in the region, but for the most part it remains rather remote.

Ourika Valley
This little town is situated right in the foothills of the High Atlas. Many people who visit this town make it a day trip from nearby Morocco. There are a number of Berber Villages that are very welcoming to tourists. At pretty much every corner there is handcrafted jewelry and trinkets for sale. Another point of interest are the Argan Oil Co-Operatives. They are run by women and visitors can see how the kernels from the Argan tree are made into oil that is used in a variety of things like soaps and food items. Tourists also like to take advantage of the areas walking trails. One of the hot spots are the rope bridges. Here, visitors can see the fast moving waters underneath while capturing some interesting pictures.

Overall the entire Atlas Mountain range has a lot to offer tourists. Each of the three mountains are a little different with High Atlas and Middle Atlas being the most frequented by travelers. Many tourists opt to go on a day tour where a well-versed guide can take them to see some of the more popular parts of the mountain and give them a little bit of history of the area

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