True or false? Morocco is all desert.

A common misconception about Morocco amongst the travel community is that the country is mainly rolling sand dunes as part of the Sahara desert. I’m sorry to break it to you all but the Sahara desert only occupies a small portion of the nation to the very south, far from the major cities. In fact Morocco contains hidden landscapes which await your exploration and astonishment.

In contrast to the bare and dry desert of the south, the region surrounding the Middle Atlas Mountains in the north is covered with greenery. The cedar forests within the area can be viewed as far as the eye can see, and are home to a rich assortment of flora and fauna, including a mischievous troop of Barbary macaques. To top it all off the region boasts breathtaking cascades amongst the rocky green terrain.

Still the biggest surprise to foreigners is the presence of snow in Morocco enabling us skiers to enjoy our favourite winter activity. The snowfields are located within the High Atlas Mountains with the impressive Mount Toubkal soaring above the clouds in excess of 4100 metres. The village of Oukaïmeden provides the best opportunity for skiing amidst the diverse Moroccan landscape even though it lacks the infrastructure of resorts in the Swiss Alps.

The misconception that Morocco is entirely desert can be presented as problematic when we consider the different groups of inhabitants around the country. For instance the Saharan region and its inhabitants is not representative of the entire Moroccan nation. Therefore it is more correct to say that the different landscapes of Morocco have allowed diversity between tribes and their cultures.

References

[Friendly Morocco] (2019, July 12). 5 Misconceptions About Morocco and Its People you didn’t know! [Blog post]. Retrieved from https://friendlymorocco.com.

Waterfalls & Forests: The Morocco You Never Hear About (2016, September 23). Retrieved from https://www.rugandrock.com.

Snow Skiing in Morocco? Yes, Really!. Retrieved from https://marocmama.com.