Resources. Despite their inhospitability and relative inaccessibility, the Atlas Mountains have played an important part in the modern development of the Maghribian countries. The mountain massifs constitute catchment areas with considerable potential.
Moreover, why is the Atlas Mountains important? Historically, the Atlas Mountains have functioned as a refuge area for the indigenous Berber peoples, helping them to preserve their distinctive languages and customs. Portions of the Moroccan Atlas and the Kabylie in Algeria remain strong bastions of Berber culture.
Amazingly, why are the Atlas Mountains important to the people of North 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.
Additionally, how do the Atlas Mountains affect the climate? Westerly winds from the Atlantic Ocean carry moisture into the region, but the mountains act as a weather barrier between the coastal grasslands and wetlands and the Sahara Desert. The Atlas Range causes a rain shadow effect, preventing the areas beyond the mountains from receiving much rainfall.
You asked, what are the Atlas Mountains for kids? The Atlas Mountains are a mountain range in northwest Africa. They run 1,500 miles (2,410km) from the Atlantic coast of Morocco to northeast Tunisia. The Atlas Mountains are not a continuous chain of mountains but a series of ranges separated by wide areas of land, which are called plateaus.The Atlas Mountains In winter, temperatures frequently plummet below freezing, sometimes falling as low as minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 20 degrees Celsius).
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.
Why are the Atlas Mountains 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 the Atlas Mountains are Africa’s longest range?
What is Africa’s longest mountain range? The Atlas Mountains stretch for 1,490 miles across northern Africa, through Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia.
How old are the Atlas Mountains?
The Anti-Atlas Mountains of northern Africa and the nearby Atlas mountains were created by the prolonged collision of the African and Eurasian tectonic plates, beginning about 80 million years ago.
Do people live in Atlas Mountains?
Despite precarious living conditions, the Atlas Mountains are densely populated—overpopulated even, in certain localities. In the area around Tizi Ouzou in the Great Kabylie, for example, densities reach about 700 persons per square mile (270 per square kilometre).
Do the Atlas Mountains have snow?
Although some peaks of the Atlas Mountains had caps of snow in January, much snowier conditions prevail a month later. Snow in Morocco is not unusual. Two ski resorts in the Atlas Mountains—one near Marrakech and the other near Ifrane—experience fairly regular snowfall each January and February.
What animals live in Atlas Mountains?
Examples of animals that live in the area include the Barbary macaque, Barbary leopard, Barbary stag, Barbary sheep, Atlas Mountain badger, Cuvier’s gazelle, northern bald ibis, Algerian nuthatch, dipper, and Atlas mountain viper.
What are some fun facts about the Atlas Mountains?
The Atlas Mountains are not a continuous chain of mountains but a series of ranges separated by wide areas of land, which are called plateaus. 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.
What is so special about the Himalayas?
The Himalayas are the third largest deposit of ice and snow in the world, after Antarctica and the Arctic. There are approximately 15,000 glaciers located throughout the range. At 48 miles (72 km) in length, the Himalayan Siachen glacier is the largest glacier outside the poles.
How hot does the Sahara get?
The Sahara Desert is one of the driest and hottest regions of the world, with a mean temperature sometimes over 30 °C (86 °F) and the average high temperatures in summer are over 40 °C (104 °F) for months at a time, and can even soar to 47 °C (117 °F).