Atlas Mountains
The Atlas Mountains are a mountain range in the Maghreb in North Africa. It separates the Sahara Desert from the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean; the name "Atlantic" is derived from the mountain range, which stretches around 2,500 km (1,600 mi) through Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. The range's highest peak is Toubkal, which is in central Morocco, with an elevation of 4,167 metres (13,671 ft). The Atlas mountains are primarily inhabited by Berber populations.
| Atlas Mountains | |
|---|---|
| Highest point | |
| Peak | Toubkal, Morocco |
| Elevation | 4,167 m (13,671 ft) |
| Listing | Mountain ranges |
| Coordinates | 31°03′35″N 7°54′54″W |
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 2,500 km (1,600 mi) |
| Width | 300 km (190 mi) |
| Geography | |
The location of the Atlas Mountains (red) across North Africa
| |
| Countries | Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia |
| Region | Maghreb |
| Geology | |
| Age of rock | Precambrian |
The terms for 'mountain' are Adrar and adras in some Berber languages, and these terms are believed to be cognates of the toponym Atlas. The mountains are home to a number of animals and plants which are mostly found within Africa but some of which can be found in Europe. Many of these species are endangered and a few are already extinct. The weather is generally cool but summers are sunny, and the average temperature there is 25 °C.