Where are the Atlas Mountains on a hemisphere map. Atlas (mountain system). Physical map of the Earth's hemispheres in Russian

The system of mountain ranges and intermontane plateaus within Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia (Maghreb countries), which is collectively called the Atlas Mountains and occupies the very north of the continent.

They are so named by the Greeks in ancient antiquity in honor of the mythical titan of the Atlas. The mountain range stretches from southwest to northeast for 2000 km, on three sides it is washed by the waters of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. In the south, the border with the Sahara is drawn at the foot of the mountains. This part of the Alpine-Himalayan belt arose relatively recently and joined Africa as a result of the closure of the Tethys Ocean. The relief of the southern part of the region is formed on the structures of Hercynian, and the northern - Alpine age. The Atlas lies mainly within the subtropical zone and is strongly influenced by the Mediterranean Sea.

This is a mountainous country within the mobile zone, unlike most African regions. It is characterized by a rocky interposition of the ridges.

These are mainly mountains with average heights of 1200-1500 meters. The maximum height is the city of Tubkal in the High Atlas (4165 meters). The formation of folded structures began in Hercynian time. Only Antiatlas in the south is a block block within the outskirts of the ancient Sahara Plate. Most of the ranges (High, Middle, Sahara Atlas) are folded-block structures formed during the period of active tectonic activity in the Neogene, when the Hercynian folded structures were divided into blocks and raised. Volcanic eruptions occurred along fault lines. In the era of alpine orogenesis, the huge Moroccan Meseta block moved into the Atlas region, crushing limestone strata into steep folds. As a result, a folded Er-Reef formed with the Precambrian core in the axial zone. The Tel Atlas arose a little earlier, in the east, within its limits, the salt species of the Triassic are wrinkled. In anthropogenesis, neotectonic movements separated the Atlas system from Sicily. The fault formed along the coast was accompanied by volcanism. Now it is a seismically troubled area. Between the Tel Atlas and the Sahara Atlas within the tectonic depression on the ancient hard block lies the High Plateau (sometimes called the Schott Plateau, or the Oran-Algerian Plateau). Thus, in the structure of the surface of the Atlas system, mountain ranges, high intermountain plateaus, hilly plains composed of limestones, sandstones, and shales that are interrupted by intrusions are combined. In the mountains, the rocks are heavily deployed. A narrow coastal strip is occupied by lowlands, which are somewhat expanding within Tunisia.

The Atlas Mountains are characterized by strong erosion dismemberment. Eroded denudation inclined surfaces are widely represented, landslide, solifluction, landslide-talus processes are also manifested. At the foot of the southern slopes proluvial loops can be traced. The dune relief is characteristic of the Atlantic lowland.

In the Atlas Mountains region, climatic conditions are very diverse. In the north, a typical Mediterranean type of climate prevails, the inland areas are characterized by a high degree of continentality, and in the southern part the climate is tropical desert.

There is a big difference in the amount of precipitation: on the northern slopes in some places more than 1000 mm falls annually (mainly in winter), in the inner regions and on the leeward southern and southeastern slopes 200-400 mm, and on the border with the Sahara - 150-190 mm . The increase in aridity from west to east is clearly expressed due to an increase in air dryness in the warm sectors of winter cyclones.

Temperature differences are manifested mainly in the winter season: in the Mediterranean part and in the south, the average January temperatures are 10-12 ° C, on the Atlantic coast below - about 5 ° C (the influence of the eastern periphery of the Azores maximum and cold Canary affects), and in the interior 5 months a year there are negative temperatures, the thickness of the snow cover in places reaches two meters. Summer is hot (30-32 ° C), cooler (21-22 ° C) only in the Atlantic region. Frequent, especially in spring, strong hot winds Samum and Khamsin with sand and dust storms. it can rise up to 50 ° C.

The river network is poorly developed, most rivers do not have a constant watercourse.

The winter discharge of the largest rivers can reach up to 1000 m 3 / s, and in summer it can be 1-5 m 3 / s6k.

On the inner plateaus there are drying out salt lakes - the Schott (Tiger, Jerid, etc.).

In the vegetation there is a transition from the Mediterranean to tropical deserts.

In the north, forests typical of Mediterranean landscapes were widespread, with some types of evergreen oaks, olive, strawberry tree, Aleppo pine, thuja, Lebanese cedar, laurel, etc., which are now replaced by shrub formations - maquis, frigana, dwarf palm trees (palmito ) or cultural landscapes. In Rif and Tel Atlas, mixed forests of summer-green Lusitanian oak, maple, pine, and Atlas cedar grow above 1700 meters. A characteristic feature is the absence of beech, widespread in Europe. Above 2200 meters - juniper thickets. Inland areas are occupied by semi-desert vegetation with a predominance of soddy grasses of alpha, drin, as well as wormwood and hodgepodge.

The soil cover corresponds to plant formations: brown carbonate soils of the Mediterranean, mountain forest burozems, gray-brown soils of dry steppes and semi-deserts. There are many salt marshes, on the southern slopes - gravelly soils of hamad.

The animal world is characteristic of both the Mediterranean (macaque monkeys, mongooses, caracals, etc.) and tropical Africa (the Barbary leopard, cheetah, jackal, panther), reptiles and birds are numerous. Mouflons, maned rams are preserved in the mountains, damans live.

The region has reserves of various minerals - iron, tin, zinc, cobalt, molybdenum ores, all kinds of salts, there is a deposit of phosphorites of world significance. They have significant energy potential, but due to the extreme unevenness of the runoff, reservoirs have to be built to use it. The coast has recreational resources. Fertile soils and a favorable climate for agriculture in the north of the region make it possible to grow many subtropical crops here - grapes, citrus fruits and fruit trees. Forests of cork oak, which gives the best cork in the world, and of Atlas cedar with magnificent timber are of industrial importance. Forest areas are currently greatly reduced.

Atlas Mountains is a region of long development. His nature is greatly modified. Natural vegetation is poorly preserved, especially forests. Previously, they occupied about a third of the area of \u200b\u200bthe countries of the region, now - 11%. Some tree species are destroyed by 50-90%. Many animals have disappeared or are very few. The Maghreb countries have a fairly large number of protected areas where relic groves of Atlas cedar, Numidian fir and other trees are protected. In the most famous national parks Tubkal and Jebel Bu Hedma, mountain gazelles and maned rams are protected.

Between this plateau and the great desert. The Tell Mountains consist of separate groups, sometimes very sharply demarcated from each other by large valleys or vast plains; such groups directed from west to east - 11: the Ujd Gadad mountain range, between the Muluya and Tafna rivers, with the Jebel Fural peak (1400 m); Tessala Range (1022 m), between pp. Tafna and Sig; Tlemcen Mountains, south of the previous, between the Moroccan border and Upper Sig, Durdus mons the ancients, with the peak of Tumzayt (1834 m); horn Sayda chain, between p. Sigom and Mina; the Jebel Vancherich group (2000 m), between Mina and Sheliff; Algerian mountain range between Sheliff and the sea, in the east to the Isser river, with Tagelza (1731 m) and the fertile Metija plain at an altitude of 1000-1640 m; Jerger (2317 m), between Isser and the Wedge Sagele; the southern chain of Dira-Hannug south of Jerzhera with Dira (1810 m); Setif chain between the Oued Sagel and the Konstantin River, with Babor (1995 m); Numidian mountains, between the river Konstantin and Oued-Sebus in the south to the Plain of Sbah, with Jebel Bu-Gareb (1316 m); The African mountain range with Serd el Ouda (1370), stretching between Majerdah and the seashore to Tunisia. To the south of these coastal chains, almost parallel to them, from Cape Good in the southwest. and Z. stretches a number of other mountain ranges up to 13 ° 20 "east. longitude, which then continues on the southern side of the Susa valley.

The space between the two chains is filled with the Schott plateau, or salt marshes, rising about 1000 m, which are located one after the other for more than 900 km and testify to the former connection with the sea (towards V.), like the more southerly large Schott to the west. from the Bay of Gabes, or Small Syrt. This plateau represents magnificent pastures for numerous herds of sheep and camels; in oases, the villages of the shepherd’s population are located. The Sahara Mountains are more connected with each other; they form a series of narrow chains parallel to each other, occupying an average of 150 km wide. In the middle and east. parts of individual chains reach considerable heights and have received special names; for example, Jebel Amur with its highest point, El Gada (1657 m), rising to 1937 m Kzel with a wooded peak, two hours from Jeriville, and Jebel Aures, which was called by the ancients Aurasius mons, with the peaks of Shelikh (2398 m) and Mhammel (2306 m), the highest point in Algeria, covered with snow for 4 months a year. Eastern spurs of A. in Tunisia serve mainly in the north. the mentioned African mountain range, to the south - Jebel Um-Debben, Jebel-Shambi and Jebel-Mehila (1445 m) adjacent to Aures and a mountain chain stretching from Cape Dobroi to the southwest with Jebel-Barku and Jebel-Silk. In addition, Tunisia is still filled with many small isolated hills.

In the mountains of Tel Atlas.

In Morocco, A. forms a continuous mountain range, bearing the name of Idrar-Nderen for the Amassirghs, and Idrassen or Jebel-Drann for the Kabiles, whose height, according to Hooker, extends to 3960 m. This ridge divides the country into two parts, one of which has descent to the north, another to the south, since the plateau of the schott does not go further into Morocco. Here Rolfs found a passage between Fez and the Tafilet oasis (2085 m), and Ball opened the Tagherut Pass (3400 m) near Jebel Tezza (3500 m) and Miltzin (3476 m). The highest point of the main chain, going from Cape Jira, or Aterni, to S.V., seems to be Jebel Ajachin, climbing 4000 meters. Parallel to A., separated from it by the large longitudinal valley of Susa stretches, starting from Jebel Autus and reaching the Cape Nun double chain Anti atlasreaching 1157 m near Isgadera. On both sides of these chains there are vast, often interrupted plains, on the other side of which isolated mountain groups rise, as, for example, in S. - Reef (Errif, that is, the coastal chain) with Jebel Anna (2200 m), and on South - less significant heights of Moroccan Sahara. Crystalline rocks act only in the south and sowing. side A., in numerous coastal points of the Mediterranean Sea and in individual elliptical masses within the country. In general, the geological composition of the Atlas Mountains is formed by: Silurian and Devonian transitional deposits, Dolomites of an indefinite era, Jurassic Cretaceous formation, nummilite rocks and later deposits of the Tertiary period. Mineral products, still little disclosed, consist mainly of copper, iron and lead, rock salt, lime and marble. On the higher peaks of the mountains, snow lies for a considerable part of the year, but on Miltzin it completely melts only 1 time over a period of 20 years; there are no glaciers at all. In winter, the northern slope is often covered with snow for several weeks. - Initially, the population of the mountains, in all likelihood, who owned the country before the invasion of the Vandals and Arabs, was composed of Berbers, who also inhabit Zap. Sugar In West. A. they are called shilluhi, live in houses, cultivate fertile valleys and are successfully engaged in crafts; in east the same parts they are called masigami, live in tents and caves, are mainly engaged in cattle breeding. Their dialects are quite different from each other.

Atlas Mountains, Atlas, folded mountain system in the north-west. Africa, from several parallel chains. Length - 2.300 km. The atlas is divided into Moroccan and Algerian-Tunisian. Moroccan A. consists of three chains, of which the middle, highest, is called High A. (Tamjurt peak - 4.700 m). Algeria-Tunisian A. consists of two chains, between which a plateau with salt lakes - scotti. The northern slopes receive more rainfall; the plateaus and southern slopes are dry. The population - sedentary and semi-nomadic Berbers (see) - is engaged in cattle breeding and gardening (olives, walnuts, figs). Algerian Atlas produces iron, copper, lead, and zinc. The Atlas Mountains are crossed by several railway lines; the most important of them: Bona - Tbessa, Philipville - Biskra, Oran - Figig.

Atlas  (Greek Atlas), a mountainous country in the northwest Africa. It extends from the Atlantic Ocean from the west to the east along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea for almost 2000 km, through Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. It stands out in a special natural region of Africa, sharply contrasting in landscape due to the mountainous terrain, exposure and climate differences and the position at the junction of subtropical and tropical geographical zones.

The southern foothills of the Sahara Atlas.

The Atlas reaches its highest altitude in Morocco, in the Er-Reef ridge, Middle and High A. (Tubkal, 4165 m, the highest peak A.). To the west from the highest part, the Moroccan Meseta descends in steps from 1000-800 m. To the east along the Mediterranean coast lies the Tel Atlas ridge, along the southern outskirts - the Sahara Atlas. 1200-1500 m high. Between them at a height of 1000-1200 lie the plains of the Orano-Algerian Meseta. The spurs of the northern and southern ranges divide them into separate hollows with large salt lakes - sebkhami (Schott al-Shergi, etc.). In the east, the northern and southern ranges merge and are separated by a strip of meridional foothills from the coastal lowlands of Tunisia.

The northern coastal part of Africa is an alpine folded structure with outcrops in the cores (Kabil massifs) of ancient (Precambrian) metamorphic formations with a shell of thin Paleozoic and Carbonate Triassic and Jurassic. The main role in the formation of this zone, however, is played by the Cretaceous-Paleogene deposits, largely flysch. They form a system of tectonic covers displaced from the north to the south and partially overlap the forward deflection made by the Molassian Miocene (Predrifsky, Predtelsky). The thickness of the geosynclinal Paleozoic, which experienced intense Hercynian tectogenesis, plays an essential role in the structure of the more southern part of Africa in the west (Moroccan Meseta). Relatively thin, slightly deformed shallow-water shallow marine deposits of the Cretaceous and Paleogene and continental - Neogene lie to the east in the same strip (the High Plateau zone, including the Oran Meseta) on the older, probably Late Precambrian basement. Even further south, in the zone of Vysokoye and Sahara A., as well as in Middle A., the Mesozoic thickness increases and at the same time its folding increases markedly. In the extreme east (in Tunisia), the folded structure is largely determined by the highly flexible saline rocks of the Triassic. In the south, A. are separated by a large fault (South Atlas fault) from the African platform. Another fault with the lowering of the central part of the Atlas structure runs along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, with manifestations of young volcanism and an earthquake. In A., deposits of iron ore and polymetals are known.

Motley lithology, climate fluctuations in the Pleistocene and modern climatic differences determine the diversity of exogenous landforms of A.: traces of ancient glaciation (peaks, punches, troughs, moraines) are preserved at the highest peaks; ridges have a thick and deep ancient erosion dismemberment. Inland areas are occupied by denudation and accumulative plains, cuest ridges, remnant plateaus. In the south, the slopes of the mountains are covered with gravel scree; physical weathering is actively proceeding. In the areas of distribution of limestone rocks is widely developed

The Atlas Mountains is a huge mountain system located in northwestern Africa, stretching from the shores of Tunisia to the Atlantic coast of Morocco through Algeria. The length of the ranges is 2500 km. The highest point is Mount Tubkal (4168 m), located in the south-west of Morocco. Initially, the Atlas was called only that part of the mountain system that was located within the boundaries of ancient Mauritania - the center and west of the modern Atlas. The Atlas Mountains separate the Atlantic and Mediterranean coast from the Sahara desert. They consist of the High Atlas, Tell Atlas and Sahara Atlas ranges, as well as the internal plateaus (Moroccan Meseta, High Plateaus) and plains.

For the first time, the ancient world learned about the existence of the Atlas mountains from the numerous travels of the Phoenicians, and then from the sailing of Polybius and the legends of Hannon, dating back to 150 BC. The first to cross the Atlas Mountains was the Romans Guy Suetonius Paulin, this happened in 42 AD. A detailed description of the Atlas is found in the writings of Maxim of Tire (2nd century AD). Today, the Atlas Mountains are very popular with tourists, there are many hiking trails.

This is a large mountain system with a length of 2500 km. Mountains stretch from the Atlantic coast of Morocco through Algeria to Tunisia. Thus, the Atlas Mountains separate and protect the Mediterranean and the Atlantic from the Sahara desert and its high temperatures. The highest point of the mountains is in Morocco - the height of Mount Tubkal is 4167 meters, and in Tunisia, the highest point - Mount Shaambi - reaches 1554 meters.

The name of this mountain range comes from the Greek myth, according to which a mighty titan nicknamed Atlas, as a punishment from the main god Zeus, held the vault of heaven on his shoulders. According to legend, for this Atlas turned into a high mountain, and all the rocks around it began to be called the Atlas Mountains.

In Tunisia, these rocks are almost devoid of vegetation and have a reddish color. They are interesting, first of all, for their oases. The first of them is Shebika, located north of the city of Tozeur. Once upon a time, a small village was located in this area, but after three days of heavy rainfall in 1969, it suffered a devastating flood that claimed hundreds of lives. Since then, no one has restored the destroyed Shebiku village, and modern settlements have appeared closer to the valley. This area is notable for its small waterfall, beating directly from the rocks. A stream flowing out of it flows along a narrow channel between the mountains, and then spreads over the plain, where an oasis is spread. It is represented mainly by date palms, and is irrigated thanks to a good irrigation system.

The second mountain oasis in the Atlas Mountains is located in Tamerza. It can be reached from Shebiki by a 15 km mountain road along the Algerian border. Like Shebika, Tamerza was hit hard during the 1969 flood. Now tourists can see here dilapidated houses, a snow-white mosque and the tomb of a marabout (saint). And the main attraction of the oasis, of course, is the Grand Cascade, which forms a natural pool. In it, as in Shebik, tourists like to swim.

You can also enjoy the beauty and grandeur of the Atlas Mountains on the legendary Red Lizard train. As early as the beginning of the 20th century, a Turkish bay moved with this retinue on this train. The diesel locomotive consists of six different cars. Previously, in one of them the bay himself traveled, in the other - his guard, in the third - a servant and so on. Equipping the train for tourist purposes, the engineers preserved its old look - some cars are equipped with leather sofas, others with simple seats, like in an electric train.

The tourist train route starts from the city of Metlaui, and the journey ends in Rodeif - on the site of the extraction of phosphates. Round trip lasts two hours, during which tourists can enjoy views of the rocky desert, oases, Selja mountain gorge and canyons, and at the same time feel like residents of the Wild West.

If you are an intricate traveler and like to discover something unusual, and for you still in some ways terra incognita, then you should definitely plan a trip to these places at the first opportunity. It is easy to become a researcher here - a region with pristine, untouched nature gives a lot of opportunities. First of all, you can test your strength by visiting the Atlas Mountains in. This is a real kingdom for lovers of hiking and forest walks.

It is enough to open an orientation course on the geography of Africa to understand where the Atlas Mountains are located, they are also the Atlas Mountains. This huge mountain system, striking in its size and height, stretches from the Atlantic coast of Morocco to the shores of Tunisia. The Atlas Mountains separate the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts from the arid sands of the Sahara Desert. The name of this mountain system originates in the myths about the titan Atlanta (Atlas), which held the firmament in its hands.

The Atlas Mountains in Morocco consist of such ranges as the High Atlas, the Middle Atlas and the Anti-Atlas, as well as the inner plateaus and plains. The height of the peaks of the Atlas Mountains often reaches 4 thousand meters above sea level, and the highest point is (4165 m). It is located 60 km from and is one of its main natural. In winter, it thrives because the top is evenly covered by a layer of snow.

This is the largest massif of the Atlas Mountains. With firm confidence, we can say that it got its name for a reason - after all, it is here that the largest concentration of the largest peaks of Africa. The ridge stretches from the plains of the Atlantic to the border with Algeria, its total length is 800 km, and in some places it is about 100 km wide. The average height of the mountains in the High Atlas reaches 3-4 thousand meters above sea level. Between the peaks lie stone plains and steep gorges.

Surprisingly, in such an inaccessible region, Berber tribes live. They are the guardians of the local traditional culture. Their way of life is based on blood ties and cohesion. On mountain slopes, they plow the land and keep fields where they grow cereals, corn, potatoes and turnips, and also graze goats and sheep.

This place is very popular in terms of tourism. Geographically, in the mountains of the High Atlas, the Tubkal National Park is located, along which there are several tourist routes of different difficulty levels. The average duration of expeditions is 3-4 days. Among the places that deserve special attention, the following can be distinguished: Ait-Bughemez valley, the Imi-n-Ifri natural bridge, Mgun valley and gorges, Uzud waterfall, Todra and Dades gorges. However, if for some reason you cannot fully travel through the mountains, but you still really want to get acquainted with the Atlas mountains, then you can settle in the small village of Imali. This will be a great starting point to many picturesque places, while such sorties will not take longer than a day, and you can always sleep well and rest in comfortable conditions.

This part of the huge mountain range will appeal to lovers of forest walks. The tops of the mountains here are covered with dense thickets of cedar trees, and the massif itself is cut with bottomless gorges. In length, this part of the Atlas Mountains reaches 350 km, and the height of the peaks is not much inferior to the High Atlas.

Seasoned travelers speak of this corner as a small European state. The nature here is amazing and wonderful, and small towns are completely distinguished by a certain picturesqueness. Such landscapes in Africa are amazing, and you can’t even believe that the largest desert on Earth is located nearby.

In terms of tourism, three places are very popular here: the cedar groves of Azrou, the alpine station Imuzzer du Candard and the town. Walking through the forests of the Middle Atlas, one can find small flocks of macaques. They are quite peaceful here, but it’s still worth taking some caution. In winter, this ski resort becomes something like a Swiss one, in any case, it is not inferior to them. Also in the local mountain lakes there are a lot of fish, which fishing lovers certainly use.

This mountain range borders directly on the Sahara, so the area here is almost uninhabited. However, on the border with the High Atlas, in the interior, the Ida-Utanan region is located, which is also called the paradise valley. In its center is the village of Imuzzir, where Berber tribes live. Almost all over the world this place is famous for fragrant thyme, honey, cactus and lavender.