The mountain range
separates the Mediterranean and Atlantic coastlines from the Sahara Desert
. It has several passes that provide routes between the coast and the Sahara desert. Toubkal, located in Morocco, is the highest peak in the range, and in North Africa. It is 4,167 meters (13,671 feet) high.
Where are the Atlas Mountains located What is significant about them?
Atlas Mountains, series of mountain ranges in
northwestern Africa
, running generally southwest to northeast to form the geologic backbone of the countries of the Maghrib (the western region of the Arab world)—Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia.
Why are the Atlas Mountains important?
Despite their inhospitability and relative inaccessibility, the Atlas Mountains have played an important part in the modern development of the Maghribian countries. … The geologic formations of the
Atlas are rich in minerals
. The Moroccan High Atlas in particular contains important deposits.
Why are they called the Atlas Mountains?
The Atlas ranges separate the Mediterranean and Atlantic coastlines from the Sahara Desert. Most of the people living in the Atlas Mountains are part of Berber tribes in Morocco and in Algeria. The mountains are
named after the ancient Greek Titan, Atlas
.
Is Atlas Mountains a volcano?
It includes the Djebel Siroua, a massif of volcanic origin with the highest summit of the range at 3,304 m. The Jebel Bani is a much lower range running along the southern side of the Anti Atlas.
Is it cold in the Atlas Mountains?
Climate of the Atlas Mountains. The Atlas Mountains are the meeting place of two different kinds of air masses—the humid and cold polar air masses that come from the north and the hot and dry tropical air masses that move up from the south. …
Winter in the Atlas is hard
, imposing severe conditions upon the inhabitants.
Where are the High Atlas Mountains?
High Atlas, French Haut Atlas, or Great Atlas, mountain range in
central Morocco
. It extends northeastward for 460 miles (740 km), from the Atlantic Coast to the Algerian border.
What type of rock is the Atlas Mountains?
The ridges are made up of purple, green, white, and black layers of
sedimentary rock
that formed at the bottom of a shallow ocean.
Which type of mountain is Atlas?
Overall, however, the Atlas can be categorized as a
semi-arid mountain range
between the tropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean/Mediterranean and the massive Sahara Desert. The highest mountain in the Atlas is Mount Toubkal. Mount Toubkal measures nearly 14,000 feet, and is located in southwestern Morocco.
What plants live in the Atlas Mountains?
The High Atlas mountains have rich flora and fauna spread throughout the 460 miles. Flora in this ecoregion consists of
Atlas cedar, evergreen holm oak, and many deciduous oaks such as the North African oak
.
What was Atlas the God of?
ATLAS was the Titan god who bore the sky aloft. He personified
the quality of endurance
(atlaô). Atlas was a leader of the Titanes (Titans) in their war against Zeus and after their defeat he was condemned to carry the heavens upon his shoulders.
Which mountains extend in Africa as Atlas Mountains?
Atlas Mountain system in nw Africa, comprising several folded and roughly parallel chains extending 2400km (1500mi) from the coast of sw Morocco to the coast of n Tunisia. North Africa’s highest peak,
Djebel Toubkal
, 4170m (13,671ft), is found in the Grand Atlas range in w Morocco.
Are the Atlas Mountains fold mountains?
The Atlas Mountains are
relatively complex folded mountains
featuring horizontal thrust faults and ancient crystalline cores. The Cape ranges on the other hand are older, simpler structures, analogous in age and erosion to the Appalachian mountains of the eastern United States.
Are the Atlas Mountains still growing?
The northern Atlas Mountains are considered to be fairly young. Just like you,
they’re still growing!
However, when mountains grow, it results in earthquakes and landslides.
How does the Atlas Mountains affect Africa?
The Atlas Mountains have had a profound effect on North Africa’s
climate, economic resources, and human history
. Separating the coastal lowlands from the SAHARA DESERT in the interior, the ranges prevent the desert heat from reaching the coast.
