The High Atlas, also called the Grand Atlas, is a mountain range in central Morocco, North Africa, the highest part of the Atlas Mountains.
The High Atlas rises in the west at the Atlantic Ocean and stretches in an eastern direction to the Moroccan-Algerian border. At the Atlantic and to the southwest the range drops abruptly and makes an impressive transition to the coast and the Anti-Atlas range. To the north, in the direction of Marrakech, the range descends less abruptly.
The range includes Jbel Toubkal, which at 4,167 m (2.589 mi; 13,671 ft) is the highest in the range and lies in Toubkal National Park. The range serves as a weather system barrier in Morocco running east–west and separating the Sahara from the Mediterranean and continental zones to the north and west. In the higher elevations of the massif, snow falls regularly, allowing winter sports. Snow lasts well into late spring in the High Atlas, mostly on the northern faces of the range. On the Western High Atlas, there is Oukaïmeden, one of three main ski stations in Morocco.
The High Atlas forms the basins for a multiplicity of river systems. The majority of the year-round rivers flow to the north, providing the basis for the settlements there. A number of wadis and seasonal rivers terminate in the deserts to the south and plateaux to the east of the mountains.
The High-Atlas Mountains are inhabited by Berbers, who live from agriculture and pastoralism in the valleys. In the steppe zone of the High-Atlas, where precipitations are low, the locals created a smart technique in managing the low precipitations and the weak soil. They turn the rather semi-arid lands into fertile valleys called locally by Agdal (garden in Berber). This technique has intrigued many Western agriculturalists, in which they were impressed by the high efficiency of this agricultural system. Many scientists, particularly French scientists, make yearly expeditions to observe the community and their living system.
These wonderful black and white photos were taken by
Wolfgang Kraus that documented everyday life of High Atlas, Morocco in 1983 and 1985.
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| Annual fair (agdoud) at the shrine of Sidi Hmad ou Lmghenni, Assif Melloul valley, central High Atlas mountains, Morocco, 1983 |
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| Assif Melloul valley, central High Atlas mountains, Morocco, 1983 |
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| Assif Melloul valley, central High Atlas, Morocco, 1983 |
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| Café, Imilchil, Morocco, 1983 |
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| Churning butter, High Atlas, Morocco, 1983 |
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| Girls doing the laundry, High Atlas, Morocco, 1983 |
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| Imdghas valley, central High Atlas mountains, Morocco, 1983 |
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| Imilchil, High Atlas, Morocco, 1983 |
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| Mules in the livestock market at the annual fair (agdoud) of Sidi Hmad ou Lmghenni, Assif Melloul valley, central High Atlas mountains, Morocco, 1983 |
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| Nine men’s morris game, High Atlas, Morocco, 1983 |
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| Playing a game of draughts (checkers) with crown caps and small stones, Imilchil, central High Atlas mountains, Morocco, 1983 |
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| Potter, High Atlas, Morocco, 1983 |
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| Primary school, High Atlas, Morocco, 1983 |
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| Tabachtint, Assif Melloul valley, central High Atlas mountains, Morocco, 1983 |
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| Tea, High Atlas, Morocco, 1983 |
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| The guardian of the collective granary of Amzray village, Assif Ahansal valley, central High Atlas mountains, Morocco, 1983 |
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| Wedding company, High Atlas, Morocco, 1983 |
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| A celebration, High Atlas, Morocco, 1985 |
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| Baking bread, High Atlas, Morocco, 1985 |
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| Building a rammed earth wall, High Atlas, Morocco, 1985 |
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| Building a rammed earth wall, High Atlas, Morocco, 1985 |
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| Conversation over a coke, High Atlas, Morocco, 1985 |
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| Girls dancing during wedding celebrations, Assif Melloul valley, central High Atlas mountains, Morocco, 1985 |
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| Harvest time, High Atlas, Morocco, 1985 |
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| High Atlas, Morocco, 1985 |
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| High Atlas, Morocco, 1985 |
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| High Atlas, Morocco, 1985 |
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| High Atlas, Morocco, 1985 |
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| High Atlas, Morocco, 1985 |
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| High Atlas, Morocco, 1985 |
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| Indoor barbecue, High Atlas, Morocco, 1985 |
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| Irrigating the potatoes, High Atlas, Morocco, 1985 |
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| Knitting sandals, High Atlas, Morocco, 1985 |
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| Marketplace conversation, High Atlas, Morocco, 1985 |
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| Post office, Imilchil, High Atlas, Morocco, 1985 |
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| Pouring tea, High Atlas, Morocco, 1985 |
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| Reaping barley, High Atlas, Morocco, 1985 |
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| Tea under the stars, High Atlas, Morocco, 1985 |
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| The oldest remaining building in Imilchil, High Atlas, Morocco, 1985 |
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| Threshing with mules, High Atlas, Morocco, 1985 |
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| Threshing, High Atlas, Morocco, 1985 |
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| Transporting barley, High Atlas, Morocco, 1985 |
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| Two shepherds, High Atlas, Morocco, 1985 |
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| Weaving, High Atlas, Morocco, 1985 |
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| Working with a quern (hand mill), High Atlas, Morocco, 1985 |
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