ATLAS, an extensive mountain system in north Africa, starting near Cape Nun, on the Atlantic Ocean, traversing Morocco, Algiers and Tunis, and terminating on the coast of the Mediterranean. It is divided into the Moroccan, or western, and the Algerian, or eastern, Atlas. The western group is divided into the great Atlas, the little Atlas on the Mediterranean coast, and the anti-Atlas, southwest of the great Atlas and near the Atlantic coast. The great Atlas contains the highest peaks of the whole system, Jebel Ayashin (14,600 feet) and Tamjurt (14,500 feet). On the coast, the range skirts the Mediterranean, from Cape Spartel, and the Straits of Gibraltar, to Cape Bon, on the northeast of Tunis. The Atlantic shore is sometimes sandy and low, at other times formed by cliffs, which do not attain any great height, except at Cape Ghir. The Mediter ranean shore; between Capes Spartel and Bon, is generally rugged, and in places attains a considerable height. Between Cape Bon and the Gulf of Gabes it is rocky, but without reaching any great elevation. The southern slope of the Atlas reaches the great desert, from which it is separated by a region of sand hills, shifting with every strong wind, and gradually making encroachments on the fertile lands at the foot of the mountains. On the
west of the Gulf of Gabes, Mount Nofusa, the last eastern spur of the Atlas, joins Mount Garian, which extends into Tripoli. The French geographers include within the limits of the Atlas their own province of Algeria, together with Morocco, and a part of Tunis. The rocks of the system are igneous and sedimentary of, the Archaean and Paleozoic periods. There are also many Jurassic and Tertiary formations. Copper, iron, marble and salt are found. While snow remains on the higher peaks during the greater part of the year no peak has a perpetual cover of snow. The whole area is 500,000 square miles, includ ing a great variety of surface, mountains, valleys and extensive plains. The valleys are very fertile, are nearly all under cultivation and compare most favorably with other Mediterranean regions. Consult Fischer, T., *Veber meine Reise im Marokkanischen Atlas,* in Zeitschrift der Gesearchaft Erdkunde (Vol. XXVI, Berlin 1899) ; Gentil, Louis, 'Mission de Sagonzac' (Paris 1906) • Schnell, P., 'L'Atlas marocain) (Paris 1898) ; Thomson, Joseph, 'Travels in the Atlas and Southern Morocco' (London 1889).