Atlantic Coast & Argan Forest

Morocco's Atlantic coast stretches over 3,500 km — from Tangier in the north to Western Sahara in the south. The Atlantic fundamentally shapes the climate and landscape: cold ocean currents (Canary Current) ensure an astonishingly temperate coast — in Essaouira, the water temperature rarely exceeds 20°C even in summer, and the constant trade wind (Alizé) makes the city a paradise for windsurfers and kitesurfers, but a nightmare for sunbathers.

The coastal landscape changes dramatically: In the north, cliffs and Mediterranean bays, around Casablanca and Rabat wide sandy beaches, near Essaouira and Agadir endless dune beaches, and in the south the spectacular rock arches of Legzira — red sandstone formations arching over the beach like natural cathedrals. The Atlantic surf is constant and powerful — Morocco's coast is considered one of the best surfing spots in the world, with world-class spots like Anchor Point, Killer Point, and Boilers near Taghazout.

The argan tree (Argania spinosa) is Morocco's botanical emblem — a gnarled tree up to 10 m high that grows only in a limited area between Essaouira and Tiznit. UNESCO declared this argan forest a biosphere reserve in 1998. The tree produces fruits whose extremely hard kernels contain the precious argan oil — a process traditionally done by hand and so labor-intensive that one liter of oil requires up to 30 kg of fruit. The image of goats climbing argan trees to eat the fruit is famous — a phenomenon increasingly staged for tourists (farmers place the goats in the trees and charge for photos).

The Souss-Massa region south of Agadir is home to one of the last habitats of the northern bald ibis (Ibis eremita) — a bird endangered with extinction, which disappeared from Europe in the 17th century. The Souss-Massa National Park hosts the last wild populations worldwide. In addition to the northern bald ibis, flamingos, gazelles, and the rare North African golden jackal can be observed.