Physical setting
Coastal country
geographic context
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Geography & Environment
Geography & Environment in Morocco
RabatLocal time
Geography & Environment
Morocco’s landscape rises from Atlantic and Mediterranean lowlands through the Rif and Atlas systems before grading toward drier plateaus and Saharan environments.
Relief anchor
Rif and Atlas mountains with Atlantic plains
regional relief reference
Morocco at a Glance
Morocco’s landscape rises from Atlantic and Mediterranean lowlands through the Rif and Atlas systems before grading toward drier plateaus and Saharan environments.
Physical geography
terrain · drainage · setting
Morocco combines broad Atlantic and Mediterranean plains with the Rif in the north and the Middle, High and Anti-Atlas mountain systems across the interior. The relief focus used here is Rif and Atlas mountains with Atlantic plains, presented as a regional physical reference.
Regional frameNorthern Africa
SettingCoastal country
Relief focusRif and Atlas mountains with Atlantic plains
Climate pattern
Climate ranges from Mediterranean and Atlantic-influenced conditions in the north and west to colder mountain climates and increasingly arid conditions toward the south and southeast.
Water and landform context
Mountain precipitation feeds major river basins flowing mainly toward the Atlantic and Mediterranean, while drainage becomes more intermittent toward the pre-Saharan interior.
Terrain, Climate and Environment
Three connected views of Morocco's physical setting.
Relief and terrain
PhysicalMorocco combines broad Atlantic and Mediterranean plains with the Rif in the north and the Middle, High and Anti-Atlas mountain systems across the interior. The relief reference on this page is Rif and Atlas mountains with Atlantic plains.
Climate pattern
ClimateClimate ranges from Mediterranean and Atlantic-influenced conditions in the north and west to colder mountain climates and increasingly arid conditions toward the south and southeast.
Environmental setting
EnvironmentMountain precipitation feeds major river basins flowing mainly toward the Atlantic and Mediterranean, while drainage becomes more intermittent toward the pre-Saharan interior.
Understand the landscape
What Morocco's geographic profile is telling you
The Rif and Atlas ranges are the principal controls on Morocco’s climate and drainage, capturing moisture in the north and west while reinforcing aridity toward the interior and southeast.
Detailed Geography & Environment Data
| Measure | Reference | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Physical setting | Coastal country | Geographic classification |
| Relief anchor | Rif and Atlas mountains with Atlantic plains | Regional physical feature |
| Climate | Climate ranges from Mediterranean and Atlantic-influenced conditions in the north and west to colder mountain climates and increasingly arid conditions toward the south and southeast. | |
| Terrain | Morocco combines broad Atlantic and Mediterranean plains with the Rif in the north and the Middle, High and Anti-Atlas mountain systems across the interior. | |
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of terrain does Morocco have?
At country scale, the main terrain pattern is: morocco combines broad Atlantic and Mediterranean plains with the Rif in the north and the Middle, High and Anti-Atlas mountain systems across the interior.
What is Morocco's climate like?
Climate ranges from Mediterranean and Atlantic-influenced conditions in the north and west to colder mountain climates and increasingly arid conditions toward the south and southeast.
What physical feature helps explain the landscape?
A useful way to read the landscape is through the relationship between relief and drainage. Mountain precipitation feeds major river basins flowing mainly toward the Atlantic and Mediterranean, while drainage becomes more intermittent toward the pre-Saharan interior.
Sources & methodology
This physical-geography profile uses Morocco Fourth National Communication to the UNFCCC (2021) to support the terrain, climate, drainage and regional relief descriptions shown on this page. The summary focuses on broad, stable physical features.
View sources used for this page
Morocco Fourth National Communication to the UNFCCC (2021)
Country-authored institutional source used for the physical-geography claims on this page.