The Atlas mountain range is Africa’s longest, extending from Morocco to Tunisia in northern Africa.
The Atlas ranges separate the Mediterranean and Atlantic coastlines from the Sahara Desert.
The chain is part of the mountain system that includes the Alps in Europe.
The mountains are home to a number of plant and animal species unique in Africa, including the only species of bear native to Africa, the Atlas Bear, which is now extinct.
The highest peak in the Atlas mountain range is the Toubkal mountain in southwestern Morocco, with an elevation of 13,671 feet.
Related Posts
-
How did the Atlas get its name and Where does the word Atlas come from?
Greek mythology tells us of a terrific struggle between the gods and the rebellious Titans, a race of giants, led by the powerful Atlas. When defeated, Atlas was compelled in punishment to bear…
-
How Are Lunar Mountains Different From Mountains On Earth and How Tall Are the Mountains On the Moon?
Lunar mountains bear little resemblance to mountains on Earth. They were not formed by plate tectonics, as on Earth, but mostly border the mares and craters. About the only thing they have in…
-
What is Bear-Baiting, How Did it Originate, and What Kind of Bear Did They Use For Bear-Baiting?
Bear-baiting was popular in England for several centuries, from about the 16th century, and was practiced till the 19th century. Herds of bears were often maintained for bear-baiting, and arenas for spectators called…
-
Why Is South Africa the Richest Country In Africa and How Much Gold Does South Africa Export?
Today, South Africa is the most industrialized country on the continent. It grew rich because Dutch colonists discovered gold and diamonds there in the late 1800s. South Africa still supplies about one third…
-
Why Are the Appalachian Mountains Not As Tall and Jagged As the Rocky Mountains?
The Appalachian Mountains are not as tall and jagged as the Rocky Mountains because they are so much older and have been worn down by weathering and erosion over millions of years. The…
-
What is the Biggest Bear in the World, Where Does it Live, and Are Grizzly Bears the Biggest Bear?
The Kodiak bear, also known by its scientific name Ursus arctos middendorffi, is also called the Alaskan grizzly bear. The Kodiak bear is the biggest brown bear species in the world. The grizzly…
