Climate Zones, Flora & Fauna
Morocco's most remarkable geographical feature is the climatic diversity in a compact space. The country unites at least four climate zones: Mediterranean in the north, Atlantic-temperate on the west coast, semi-arid to desert-like in the south and east, and alpine in the High Atlas. This diversity makes it possible to travel from snowfields to palm groves in a single day.
The flora is correspondingly rich: In the north, cork oaks, holm oaks, and eucalyptus grow; in the Middle Atlas, the majestic Atlas cedars (Cedrus atlantica), which can reach up to 40 m high and over 800 years old — the cedar forests of Azrou and Ifrane are among the most beautiful forests in North Africa. In the south, date palms dominate the oases (the Zagora region produces some of the best dates in the world), while the slopes of the Anti-Atlas are covered with ancient argan trees. In spring, the foothills of the Atlas turn into a sea of wildflowers, poppies, and almond trees — particularly spectacular in the Ameln Valley near Tafraoute (February/March).
The fauna of Morocco has suffered greatly from centuries of hunting and habitat loss — lions, bears, and leopards are long extinct. Nevertheless, there are still remarkable species: The Barbary macaque (Macaca sylvanus) lives in the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas — the last monkey population in Africa north of the Sahara and the only wild primate species in Europe (in Gibraltar). Gazelles (Dorcas and Cuvier's gazelle), Fennecs (desert foxes with their large ears), golden eagles, vultures, and desert jerboas are native to the drier regions.
The sea is rich in life: dolphins and occasionally whales (fin whales, sperm whales) traverse the Strait of Gibraltar, and the coastal waters are rich in fish — sardines from Morocco are among the most important in the world (Morocco is one of the largest sardine producers overall). In the river mouths and lagoons, migratory birds rest on their way between Europe and sub-Saharan Africa — the lagoon of Merja Zerga near Moulay Bousselham and the Souss-Massa estuary are outstanding birding spots.
