The plains at the periphery of the Atlas Mountains: the genesis, relief, current desertification

On the territory of Morocco, four regions of plains were identified, which differ in their history of development, morphology and processes of anthropogenic desertification. According to the character of natural environment, the plains are classed as humid, semi-arid, arid, and extra-arid. A progressive character of anthropogenic desertification of the plains at the periphery of the Atlas mountain system over the course of the last 4000 years has been established.