Читать книгу Mountaineering in the Moroccan High Atlas. Walks, climbs & scrambles over 3000M онлайн

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Above village level, the juniper, hardy pine conifers and stunted oak trees are commonly found. The Atlas cedar is found only in the north-eastern extremities of the High Atlas, but it continues into the Middle Atlas where it is much more widespread.

Thorny scrub abounds up to 3500m, which often prevents trekkers finding suitable camping places.

Flower life is limited to a few weeks in late spring. The most widespread flower is the poppy, which, when seen in a vibrant green field of young barley with a snowy mountain massif in the background, is a stunning sight. Crocus, scilla, asphodelus, arbutus, wormwood and myrtle are common.

Wildlife

Wildlife is reasonably sparse. Deforestation and overgrazing by sheep and goats are threatening the future of many of native animals. Boar are not uncommon at village level and even up to 2750m, where their foraging may be evidenced by the top layer of soil having been disturbed in large areas. The Barbary ground squirrel will be seen disappearing as you approach. Wild mouflon are rare but do exist in the Toubkal region. Wildcat and lynx are diminishing fast.