Mountain atlas coordinates latitude and longitude. Atlas Mountains: description and photos. Northernmost peaks
Atlas, mountains - Mountain chain all in. zap. Africa, in present-day Barbary, was known in ancient times under the same name, but is still very little explored at the present time. A. stretches for approximately 2300 km in a direction from W.S.W. to E.N.E. through… … Encyclopedic Dictionary F.A. Brockhaus and I.A. Efron
ATLAS (Atlas Mountains)- ATLAS (Atlas Mountains), on northwest Africa, within Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. Length about 2000 km. Consists of the Tel Atlas, High Atlas, Middle Atlas, Saharan Atlas ranges, internal plateaus (High Plateaus, Moroccan Meseta) and... ... encyclopedic Dictionary
ATLAS Modern encyclopedia
ATLAS- (Atlas Mountains) in northwest Africa, within Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. Length approx. 2000 km. Consists of hr. Tel Atlas, High Atlas, Wed. Atlas, Saharan Atlas, inland plateaus (High Plateaus, Moroccan Meseta) and plains. Height up to 4165… Big Encyclopedic Dictionary
Atlas- (Atlas Mountains), in northwest Africa (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia). Length about 2000 km. height up to 4165 m (Mount Toubkal). Consists of ridges (Tel Atlas, High Atlas, Middle Atlas, Saharan Atlas), an internal plateau (High Plateau, Moroccan ... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary
Atlas- mountain range in the north. zap. Africa, in present-day Barbary, was known in ancient times under the same name, but is still very little explored. A. stretches for approximately 230 km. in a direction from the WSW. on ENE. via Morocco,... ... Encyclopedia of Brockhaus and Efron
Atlas of Canada- (English Atlas of Canada) Internet atlas, which is published by the Ministry Natural resources Canada (Natural Resources Canada) and contains information about each locality Canada. Initially, the atlas was published in print... ... Wikipedia
Atlas- I. ATLAS a; m. [German] Atlas from Greek. Atlas (Atlantos)]. what and with def. 1. Collection of geographical, astronomical, etc. kart. A. peace. A. highways. Geographical a. Zvezdny a. ● According to the image of the mythological titan Atlas on the first... ... encyclopedic Dictionary
MOUNTAINS- 1. in Greek mythology ora, in Greek mythology, the goddess of nature and the seasons. There were usually three of them, and they represented spring, summer and winter. They were depicted as young and beautiful maidens, accompanied by nymphs and graces (charites). According to… … Collier's Encyclopedia
Books
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The Atlas Mountains in Africa are home to some of the continent's rarest plants and animals, and one of the few places on the planet where snowy ridges are surrounded by hot, arid desert. In antiquity these were mysterious western lands, where, according to myths, the Titan lived, supporting the firmament. Where are the Atlas Mountains? Why are they interesting?
Northernmost peaks
The Atlas Mountains are a range of several ridges located between the Mediterranean Sea and the world's largest desert, the Sahara. It extends 2092 kilometers in length and almost 1020 kilometers in width, covering an area of 776 thousand km2.
The Atlas Mountains are located in the extreme northwest of the African continent. They occupy the territory of several countries at once and stretch from the Atlantic coast of Morocco through Algeria to east coasts Tunisia. Conventionally, they are divided into four regions:
- High Atlas.
- Tell-Atlas.
- Middle Atlas.
- Saharan Atlas.
The height of the mountains often reaches 2-4 thousand meters above sea level. Between their ridges there are numerous internal plateaus and plains. Mountains act as a natural barrier to air masses and participate in shaping the climate not only of Africa, but also of Europe. They protect Eurasia from the destructive influence of the Sahara, but at the same time contribute to the formation of deserts, preventing moist air from the seas from penetrating deep into the continent.
Legend of the Titan
The edge of the world - this is how the ancient Greeks imagined the area where the Atlas Mountains are located. This was the land of the stern African king Atlas (Atlas), brother of the titan Prometheus, who for centuries held the entire vault of heaven on his strong shoulders.
According to legend, the titan was predicted that the son of Zeus would deceive him. The conversation was about Hercules, but Atlas did not know about this and, fearing to be made a fool, refused hospitality to Perseus. Then the embittered hero took out the severed head of the Gorgon and turned the mighty titan into huge mountain ranges.
High Atlas
The mountains and ridges of this region stretch for 700 kilometers in length. They are located on the territory of Morocco - from Cape Gir to the border with Algeria. The High Atlas consists of limestone ridges and plateaus, separated by relief depressions and deep valleys formed due to erosion.
A lot starts here large rivers, which do not dry out even in the hot season, flowing into the seas in the north. Watercourses flowing in the southern and east direction, are less intense and more susceptible to evaporation. Some of them end in desert areas and appear only during the rainy seasons. In the central part of the ranges there are high-mountain plains, as well as deep picturesque canyons and gorges carved by rivers.
In the western part of the Atlas there is the highest point of the entire mountain system and Morocco - the peak of Jebel Toubkal. It reaches 4165 meters and in winter time covered with a thick layer of snow. The mountain is popular place for training climbers, as well as a center skiing in Africa.
Middle Atlas
In the central part of Morocco stretches the Middle Atlas. It consists of numerous limestone peaks up to three thousand meters high, which in the west turn into a plateau of mesas with a maximum height of 1000 meters. Even further to the west, the coastal plains begin, on which the big cities- Fes, Casablanca, Rabat.
The Middle Atlas is home to the largest Moroccan rivers, most of which flow into the Atlantic Ocean. They are real sources of life - river water is used to irrigate crops, and in their valleys there are numerous settlements of mountain peoples. At altitudes above 1300 meters there are many closed lakes, or agelmams. The most famous of them are Aziza, Abahan, Sidi Ali.
Tell Atlas
The Tell Atlas ridge seems to continue the Middle Atlas and runs along Mediterranean coast from eastern Morocco to Tunisia itself. It stretches 1,500 kilometers in length and reaches approximately 100 kilometers in width.
At the foot of its ridges are the largest Algerian cities with a population of more than 300 thousand inhabitants. Among them are the capital of the country - Algeria, as well as the cities of Oran, Constantine, Annaba. In the mountains near the sea coast there is the most deep cave in Africa - Anu Ifflis, or “hyena cave”. It goes 1170 meters deep, and its entrance is located at an altitude of more than 2000 meters above sea level.
Saharan Atlas
This ridge is located in Morocco and Tunisia. It runs almost parallel to the Tell Atlas Mountains. They are separated from each other by a vast plateau, which, in fact, is the valley of the Sheliff River and other tiny rivers. During rainy periods, water accumulates here, forming many small salt lakes.
The Cheliffe is Algeria's longest watercourse - from the Saharan Atlas Mountains to Mediterranean Sea it stretches for 720 kilometers. Most of the other rivers within the ridge appear only during periods of heavy rainfall; in other periods they quickly disappear, leaving behind only dry wadi beds.
Climate and natural areas
The Atlas Mountains have very different natural conditions. On both sides they are sandwiched between sea waters and the world's largest desert, which shape their climate. The southern slopes are represented by hot tropics with little precipitation and high temperatures. From the Sahara there are often hot, suffocating sirocco winds, as well as destructive dust storms.
In the interior, a dry continental climate with hot summers and cold winters has developed. In high mountain areas, snow lingers for 4-5 months a year. The main plants here are semi-empty and steppe species, such as grasses and low-growing shrubs.
Where the Atlas Mountains are close to the sea, the climate is Mediterranean. The northern slopes receive more than 1000 mm of precipitation per year and are characterized by warm winters and relatively cool summers, especially on the Atlantic coast. Low shrubs, mixed and even evergreen forests are common here.
There are not too many natural landscapes left in the mountains. The region has been used for agriculture perhaps since before the Common Era, and its primary vegetation has been greatly modified. In past centuries, forests occupied almost a third of the Atlas, but today their places are occupied by semi-deserts and agricultural lands. Locals Grapes, citrus fruits, olives, figs, apricots, date palms and cereals are grown on the slopes of the ridges. Areas covered with grasses and shrubs are used as pastures.
Flora and fauna
In the Atlas Mountains it is as if two different worlds. Local nature has both African and typically European features. In the northern regions there are maples, cork and Lusitanian oaks, Lebanese cedars, and laurels. At altitudes of 1300 meters, local endemics are found - Atlas cedars, and at altitudes of 1800 meters, Numidian firs grow, which are found only in Algeria.
An interesting feature of the Atlas is the complete absence of beech, which is so abundant in European landscapes. But here there is a different juniper, Barbary thuja, Aleppo pine and holm oak.
Lives in the mountains a large number of lizards, snakes, insects and small rodents such as hares, mice and hyraxes. Within their borders live jackals, panthers, cheetahs, mongooses, caracals, wild boars, and ferrets. Migratory birds often stop in areas of oases rich in diverse vegetation and moisture.
In the past, the Atlas Mountains were the only place in Africa, where brown bears lived. Today, along with the large Barbary lions, they are considered extinct. A rare and valuable species for the continent are Maghreb macaques, or magots. These are the only macaques on the planet that do not live in Asia. Rare and vulnerable animals of this mountainous country also include maned sheep and mouflons.
Peoples of Atlas
Main population Atlas Mountains The Berbers represent the ancient North African peoples. These include a large number of ethnic groups (Amatsirg, Shillu, Kabyle, Shauya, etc.) with different ways of life. In the Middle Ages, the Berbers were influenced by Muslims, thanks to whom many of them converted to Islam. This state of affairs continues today, but some tribes still adhere to traditional beliefs.
On southern ranges Morocco is home to the semi-nomadic Shillu. During the rainy seasons they engage in agriculture, and during dry periods they roam with herds of sheep and other domestic animals.
The Zayan tribes live in the center of the Middle Atlas and own their own ancestral lands. Due to the harsh climate, they are forced to migrate twice a year to areas with milder conditions, but then return back.
In the Ores Mountains in Algeria live the Shawi people, who are engaged in agriculture and cattle breeding. Tribes in the southern parts of the country lead a semi-nomadic lifestyle that is heavily dependent on local weather conditions. Like other Berbers, the Shawiyas are Muslims, but at the same time they practice pagan magical cults along with Islam.
In addition to them, settled Kabyle tribes live in Algeria, who are actively fighting for their political rights, as well as the preservation of culture and language. Their main occupation is gardening and agriculture, but many representatives of the people work as statesmen, traders, etc. The Kabyles inhabit mainly the northern regions of the country. They live close to the tops of the mountains, with vineyards, groves of figs and olive trees around their houses.
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| 280pxpx Map showing the location of the Atlas Mountains in northern Africa (in red) |
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| Coordinates : 31.061667 , -7.915833 / (G) (O) | |
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| Category on Wikimedia Commons | |
Coordinates : 31°03′42″ n. w. 7°54′57″ W d. / 31.061667° s. w. 7.915833° W d.(G) (O) (I)31.061667 , -7.915833
Atlas Mountains(Arabic: جبال الأطلس ; the name comes from the Greek. Ἄτλας - named after the Greek Atlas Atlas) - large mountain system in northwest Africa, stretching from the Atlantic coast Morocco through Algeria to the shores Tunisia; later the entire mountain system from Cape Kotey (modern Cape Spartel near Tangier) to Sirte (Little Sirte). The length of the ridges is 2,400 km. Highest point- Mount Toubkal (4,167 m), located in the southwest of Morocco.
History of the Jewish Community
In the Middle Ages and in modern times
According to Arabic literary sources, some Berber tribes living in the Atlas Mountains adhered to Judaism.
Their appeal to Islam probably happened in the 9th century. The Almohads failed to subdue the Jewish-Berber tribes of the Atlas, and many Jews took refuge among them.
Large numbers of Jews in the Central Atlas and Sousse Valley were converted, often by force, to Islam in the 16th century.
By the 19th century Jewish communities Atlas on the coast Atlantic Ocean completely disappeared.
in the 20th century
In 1948, in the Moroccan part of the Atlas there were about ten thousand Jews, living mainly in special Jewish quarters - mella. About half of them were engaged in small trade and crafts, some in agriculture. Most Jews were illiterate.
Repatriation to Israel
A number of Jewish settlements were so isolated from the outside world by mountains that their existence was not suspected until the 1950s, when a massive massacre began.