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Atlas Mountains Facts & Worksheets

The Atlas Mountains are a series of mountain ranges in the Maghreb region of North Africa, spanning Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia.

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The Atlas Mountains are a series of mountain ranges in the Maghreb region of North Africa, spanning Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. The mountain range includes subranges such as the Anti-Atlas, High-Atlas, Middle Atlas, Saharan Atlas, Tell Atlas, and the Aurès Mountains and separates the Sahara Desert from the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. 

See the fact file below for more information about the Atlas People, or you can download our 29-page Atlas Mountains worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

GEOLOGY

  • Most of Africa’s basement rock developed during the Precambrian supereon and is significantly older than the Atlas Mountains. The Atlas developed over three successive geological periods on Earth.
  • The initial tectonic distortion phase involves solely the Anti-Atlas (a mountain range in Morocco) that formed 300 million years ago due to collisions between continents during the Paleozoic Era. Millions of years ago, North America, Europe, and Africa were connected due to continental collisions.
  • In the case of the Africa-Europe collision, tectonic convergence is clearly responsible for the construction of the High Atlas (a mountain range in central Morocco), as well as the closure of the Strait of Gibraltar and the emergence of the Alps and Pyrenees.
  • There is, however, an absence of evidence to support the nature of the subduction in the Atlas region or the thickening of the Earth’s crust commonly linked with continental collisions. One of the most noticeable features of the Atlas, according to geologists, is the relatively limited amount of crustal hardening and tectonic contraction despite the range’s high altitude. 
  • Moreover, according to recent research, deep mechanisms anchored in the Earth’s mantle may have led to the uplift of the High and Middle Atlas. 
  • The Atlas Mountains are abundant in natural resources. Among other resources, there are deposits of iron ore, lead ore, copper, silver, mercury, rock salt, phosphate, marble, anthracite coal, and natural gas.
  • The Anti-Atlas Mountains are thought to have developed as part of the Alleghenian orogeny. These mountains arose when Africa and America collided and were originally part of a series that rivaled the Himalayas. 

SUBRANGES

  • Anti-Atlas– The Anti-Atlas stretches from the Atlantic Ocean in southwest Morocco to the heights of Ouarzazate and farther east to Tafilalt (approximately 500 kilometers or 300 miles). 
  • It shares a boundary with the Sahara in the south. The Jbel Saghro range is the Anti-Atlas’s easternmost point, and elements of the High Atlas range flank its northern limit. It includes the Djebel Siroua, a volcanic massif with the highest peak at 3,304 meters. The Jebel Bani is a significantly lower range that runs along the southern flank of the Anti-Atlas.
  • High Atlas– The High Atlas mountain range in central Morocco originates in the west near the Atlantic coast and runs east to the Moroccan-Algerian border. It has numerous summits above 4,000 m, including Toubkal, the highest summit in North Africa, and Ighil m’Goun, the range’s second-largest summit. 
  • Moreover, it is primarily inhabited by Berber people who live in small communities and cultivate the Ourika Valley high plains. A hydroelectric dam near Barrage Cavagnac constructed the artificial lake Lalla Takerkoust.
  • The Middle Atlas range is the northernmost of Morocco’s three main Atlas ranges. It is located north of the High Atlas Mountains, separated by the rivers Moulouya and Oum Er-Rbia, and south of the Rif Mountains, divided by the river Sebou. 
  • To the west are Morocco’s central coastal lowlands, which include many of the country’s major cities, while to the east is the high, arid plateau that stretches across the Saharan and Tell Atlas mountains. Furthermore, The jbel Bou Naceur (3,340 m) is the highest point in the range. The Middle Atlas receives more rain than the ranges to the south, resulting in an essential water source for the coastal plains and a biodiversity hotspot. It is home to most of the globe’s Barbary macaque population.
  • Saharan Atlas– Algeria’s Saharan Atlas runs east of the High Atlas, traversing the country from Morocco into Tunisia. The Aures Mountains are frequently depicted as the easternmost point of the Saharan Atlas.
  • Though not as high as the High Atlas, they reach altitudes comparable to the Tell Atlas range, which extends to the north and closer to the shore. Outside of the Aures Mountains, the highest peak is the 2,236 m (7,336 ft) high Djebel Aissa.
  • Tell Atlas– The Tell Atlas is a mountain chain that stretches from Eastern Morocco to Tunisia and across Algeria and is part of the Atlas mountain ranges. It runs parallel to the Mediterranean coast and connects with the Saharan Atlas in Algeria and . 
  • The high plateau of the Hautes Plaines, to the south of the Tell Atlas, has ponds in the wet season and salt marshes in the dry. The eastern side of the Tell Atlas has the most humid climate in North Africa, with annual precipitation exceeding 1,000 mm (39 in) and occasionally exceeding 1,500 mm (59 in) in places like the Collo Peninsula and near Ain Draham. In the winter, the tops receive a significant amount of snow.
  • Aures– the Aurès Mountains are located in the Atlas mountain range’s easternmost region. It extends into Algeria and Tunisia. The range inspired the name of the Aurès natural region.

FLORA AND FAUNA

  • The Atlas cedar, evergreen oak, and various semi-evergreen oaks, such as the Algerian oak, are among the mountain flora. Many animals once lived in the Atlas Mountains, including the Atlas bear and Atlas wild ass, but these subspecies are now extinct. 

ATLAS MYTHOLOGY

  • The origin of the name Atlas is unknown. Because the Atlas Mountains originate in a Berber territory, it has been suggested that the name derives from one of the Berber languages, notably the word ‘ádrr,’ meaning mountain.
  • In Greek mythology, Atlas and his brother Menoetius allied with the Titans in their Titanomachy fight against the Olympians. When the Titans were destroyed, several of them (including Menoetius) were imprisoned in Tartarus, but Zeus sentenced Atlas to stand at the western border of the world and bear the sky on his shoulders. Atlas refused, and as a result, he was cast into hell and became Atlas Telamon, “enduring Atlas,” and a doublet of Coeus, the representation of the cosmic axis around which the heavens spin.
  • Atlas, then a shepherd, met Perseus, who turned him to stone, according to the Greek poet . Later, Ovid thoroughly explained the occurrence, mixing it with the Heracles tale. Atlas is a king in this story, not a shepherd. According to Ovid, Perseus arrived in Atlas’ Kingdom and requested protection, claiming to be Zeus’ son. Atlas denied Perseus’ hospitality because he feared a prophecy about a son of Zeus stealing his golden apples from his orchard. 
  • For instance, one of Heracles’ Twelve Labors was to retrieve some of the golden apples that grew in Hera’s garden, tended by Atlas’ supposed daughters, the Hesperides (also known as the Atlantides), and protected by the dragon Ladon. Heracles approached Atlas and promised to hold up the skies while Atlas went to get the fruit from his daughters.
  • When Atlas returned with the apples, he tried to deceive Heracles into bearing the sky eternally by offering to deliver the apples himself, for anyone who purposefully took the load had to carry it forever or until somebody else took it away. Heracles claimed to accept Atlas’ offer, requesting that Atlas retake the sky for only a few minutes so Heracles could reposition his cloak as padding on his shoulders. Heracles seized the apples and fled when Atlas dropped them and reclaimed the sky on his shoulders. In some accounts, Heracles instead constructed the two huge Pillars of Hercules to separate the heavens from the earth, releasing Atlas in the same way he liberated Prometheus.
  • On the other hand, Atlas is used figuratively to represent the character of someone who grew up with many obligations. 

Atlas Mountains Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about the Atlas Mountains across 29 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about the Atlas Mountains. The mountain range includes subranges such as the Anti-Atlas, High-Atlas, Middle Atlas, Saharan Atlas, Tell Atlas, and the Aurès Mountains and separates the Sahara Desert from the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. 

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. Atlas Mountains Facts
  2. Featuring Atlas
  3. Complete Me!
  4. Atlas Fauna 
  5. aMOUNT of It!
  6. #ATLAndScape
  7. The Titan
  8. GMRC as a Tourist
  9. Top of the Atlas
  10. Two Communities
  11. Depicting Atlas!

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Atlas Mountains?

The Atlas Mountains are a mountain range in North Africa, stretching across Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. They are one of the most prominent mountain ranges in the region, running for approximately 2,500 kilometers (1,500 miles) from southwest to northeast.

What is the significance of the Atlas Mountains?

The Atlas Mountains are significant for several reasons. They serve as a natural barrier between the Mediterranean coast and the Sahara Desert, influencing climate and vegetation patterns. The region is also culturally and historically important, with various indigenous Berber communities living in and around the mountains.

What are the main divisions of the Atlas Mountains?

The Atlas Mountains are typically divided into three main ranges: the High Atlas, the Middle Atlas, and the Anti-Atlas. The High Atlas is the most extensive and contains the highest peaks, while the Middle Atlas is located to the north, and the Anti-Atlas lies to the southwest.

What kind of wildlife can be found in the Atlas Mountains?

The Atlas Mountains are home to a diverse range of wildlife, including Barbary macaques, Atlas deer, wild boars, and various bird species. The range of ecosystems, from forests to high plateaus, supports a variety of flora and fauna.

What outdoor activities are popular in the Atlas Mountains?

The Atlas Mountains offer numerous outdoor activities for visitors and adventurers. Hiking and trekking are among the most popular activities, with trails that vary in difficulty. Additionally, the mountains provide opportunities for rock climbing, skiing in the winter, and exploring the traditional Berber villages and culture along the way.

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Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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