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The Karst Landscapes of Beni Mellal Atlas (Central Morocco): Identification for Promoting Geoconservation and Tourism Cover

The Karst Landscapes of Beni Mellal Atlas (Central Morocco): Identification for Promoting Geoconservation and Tourism

Quaestiones Geographicae
Volume 41 (2022): Issue 3 (September 2022)
By: Abdellah Ait Barka,  Jamila Rais,  Ahmed Barakat,  Elhassan Louz and  Samir Nadem  
Open Access
|Aug 2022

Figures & Tables

Fig. 1

Location of the study area.a) Map of Morocco showing the geographical position of the study area, b) map of the study area.
Location of the study area.a) Map of Morocco showing the geographical position of the study area, b) map of the study area.

Fig. 2

a) The geological map of the study area. Extracted by the geological map of Morocco 1:100,000. Sheet of Béni Mellal, Afourer and Kasba Tadla. b) Litho-stratigraphic log of Beni Mellal Atlas.
a) The geological map of the study area. Extracted by the geological map of Morocco 1:100,000. Sheet of Béni Mellal, Afourer and Kasba Tadla. b) Litho-stratigraphic log of Beni Mellal Atlas.

Fig. 3

Geomorphological synthesis map.
Geomorphological synthesis map.

Fig. 4

The most springs visited by tourists and hikers.(a, b) Spring of Ain Asserdoune. (c), (d) Spring of Taghbalout Ouhlima. (e) Spring of Tamoudjout. (f) Springs of Ochrah.
The most springs visited by tourists and hikers.(a, b) Spring of Ain Asserdoune. (c), (d) Spring of Taghbalout Ouhlima. (e) Spring of Tamoudjout. (f) Springs of Ochrah.

Fig. 5

Hydrogeological section showing the emergence conditions of Ain Asserdoune, Beni Mellal.
Hydrogeological section showing the emergence conditions of Ain Asserdoune, Beni Mellal.

Fig. 6

The important sinkholes in the Study Area.(a) Sinkholes River at the level of El Ksiba. (b) Sinkhole at the Orbia developed to retain water. (c) Sinkhole at the level of El Ksiba. (d) Polje at the level of Tassemit. (e) Polje at the site of Tazerkount. (f) Giant Polje at El Ksiba filled with alteration products of clays and limestones.
The important sinkholes in the Study Area.(a) Sinkholes River at the level of El Ksiba. (b) Sinkhole at the Orbia developed to retain water. (c) Sinkhole at the level of El Ksiba. (d) Polje at the level of Tassemit. (e) Polje at the site of Tazerkount. (f) Giant Polje at El Ksiba filled with alteration products of clays and limestones.

Fig. 7

The travertine, canyon and waterfalls of Moudj.(a) waterfall of Timskar. (b) Moudj waterfall. (c) Canyon of Moudj, (d) El Ksiba travertine.
The travertine, canyon and waterfalls of Moudj.(a) waterfall of Timskar. (b) Moudj waterfall. (c) Canyon of Moudj, (d) El Ksiba travertine.

Fig. 8

The ruiniform landscapes of the Orbia site of varying shapes and sizes.(a) Panoramic view of the Orbia site. (b), (c), (d), (e) The different shapes of the ruiniform landscapes of the Orbia site.
The ruiniform landscapes of the Orbia site of varying shapes and sizes.(a) Panoramic view of the Orbia site. (b), (c), (d), (e) The different shapes of the ruiniform landscapes of the Orbia site.

Fig. 9

The ruiniform landscapes of Ain el Ghazi site of varying shapes and sizes.(a), (b), (d), (e) The different shapes of the ruiniform landscapes of the Ain el Ghazi site. (c) Panoramic view of the Ain el Ghazi site and city of Beni Mellal.
The ruiniform landscapes of Ain el Ghazi site of varying shapes and sizes.(a), (b), (d), (e) The different shapes of the ruiniform landscapes of the Ain el Ghazi site. (c) Panoramic view of the Ain el Ghazi site and city of Beni Mellal.

Fig. 10

The different caves encountered in the study area.(a) Caves of the cliffs of Timoulilte. (b) Caves of the cliffs of Tit n’ziza at dir d’El Ksiba. (c) Cave of the cliffs of Tanougha. (c) Cave of Tazart n’amar at Tanougha. (e) Cave of Foum El Ancer. (f) View from inside Foum El Ancer cave. (g) Cave of Orbiaa site. (h) Stalactites inside Orbiaa cave.
The different caves encountered in the study area.(a) Caves of the cliffs of Timoulilte. (b) Caves of the cliffs of Tit n’ziza at dir d’El Ksiba. (c) Cave of the cliffs of Tanougha. (c) Cave of Tazart n’amar at Tanougha. (e) Cave of Foum El Ancer. (f) View from inside Foum El Ancer cave. (g) Cave of Orbiaa site. (h) Stalactites inside Orbiaa cave.

Fig. 11

Cliffs and karren of Moudj.(a) Giant grikes. (b) Incipient karren. (c) Freeze and thaw karren. (d) Grikes. (e) Limestone of the massive carbonates of Liass lower Sineurian age fossilized from the Gastropods and Lamellibranchs.
Cliffs and karren of Moudj.(a) Giant grikes. (b) Incipient karren. (c) Freeze and thaw karren. (d) Grikes. (e) Limestone of the massive carbonates of Liass lower Sineurian age fossilized from the Gastropods and Lamellibranchs.

Fig. 12

Geotouristic map of the study area.
Geotouristic map of the study area.

Fig. 13

Moudj canon geo-hiking trail.
Moudj canon geo-hiking trail.

List of selected and evaluated geosites_

NoNameCommuneCodeScientific valueAdditional value
1Spring of Ain AsserdouneBeni MellalBEMhyd0010.950.59
2Spring of Ain El GhaziFoum El AncerFOMhyd0020.800.12
3Karren MoudjFoum El AncerFOMkar0030.900.34
4Ruiniform landscapes of MoudjFoum El AncerFOMkar0040.900.21
5Canyon of HansalaTagzirtTAGkar0050.900.28
6Canyon of MoudjFoum El AncerFOMkar0060.900.25
7Timskar WaterfallsFoum El AncerFOMkar0070.900.25
8Tazerkount Ruiniformes LandscapesAfourerAFOkar0080.650.25
9Ruiniformes Landscapes of OribaaBeni MellalBEMkar0090.950.40
10Caves of OrbiaaBeni MellalBEMkar0100.800.21
11Caves of Ain El ghaziFoum El AncerFOAkar0110.600.21
12Ain OrbiaaBeni MellalBEMkar0120.950.28
13Ruiniformes Landscapes of TassemitBeni MellalBEMkar0120.550.21
14travertines of TimskarFoum El AncerFOAhyd0130.800.25
15Tazzerkount Tepee StructuresAfourerAFOsed0130.800.25
16travertines of El KsibaEL KsibaELKhyd0140,800.18
17Ruiniformes Landscapes of ELKsibaEL KsibaELKkar0140.850.18
18Fossils of MoudjFoum El AncerFOApal0140.950.21
19Panoramic view of RurateAfourerAFOant0150.950.18
20Spring of Lala KamriaFoum El AncerFOAhyd0160.650.28
21Spring of OuchrahTagzirtTAGhyd0170.950.59

Methodology used (based on Reynard et al_ 2016)_

Geomorhosites inventoryAssessment of intrinsic valueCharacteristics of use and management
Identification of potential sites
  • –

    Field work

  • –

    Existing bibliography

  • –

    Geological and geomorphological map

Scientific values
  • –

    Integrity

  • –

    Representativeness

  • –

    Rarity

  • –

    Paleogeographic

Protection
  • –

    Protection status

  • –

    Attacks and threats

Selection geomorphosites
  • –

    High scientific value

  • –

    Representativeness of local geomorphology

  • –

    Aesthetic

Additional values
  • –

    Cultural value

  • –

    Ecological value

  • –

    Aesthetic value

  • –

    Economic value

Promotion
  • –

    Accessibility

  • –

    Environment

  • –

    Security

  • –

    Tourisme infrastructure

  • –

    Educational interest

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/quageo-2022-0027 | Journal eISSN: 2081-6383 | Journal ISSN: 2082-2103
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Language: English
Page range: 87 - 109
Submitted on: Mar 1, 2022
|
Published on: Aug 19, 2022
Published by: Adam Mickiewicz University
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 4 issues per year
Keywords:
karst landscapes,
geo-tourism,
Central High Atlas,
Atlas of Beni Mellal
Related subjects:
Geosciences,
Geography

© 2022 Abdellah Ait Barka, Jamila Rais, Ahmed Barakat, Elhassan Louz, Samir Nadem, published by Adam Mickiewicz University
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

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