The Karst of the Northern Middle Atlas (Morocco): An Invaluable Heritage to Inventory

Abstract

The northern part of the Middle Atlas is the most deformed of the chain. Made up of essential carbonate and marly outcrops of Jurassic, it shelters a particular karstic richness. Its integration into the Moroccan geoheritage is amply justified by its diversity, its typicity, and its exceptional extent. Indeed, its exokarstic forms cover 30% of its surface and its endokarst includes, to date, more than 370 underground cavities. Among the main karst geosites of the northern Middle Atlas, 9 have been inventoried and studied in this article based on four scientific criteria, namely, representativeness, rarity, geological diversity, and documentation. We consider these geosites as reference and unique sites for Morocco. Out of 9 inventoried geosites, 6 geosites are exokarstic (Chiker polje, dolines of Ademame, Chaâra lapiaz, Guelta Tameda, Taffert canyons, Ain Sebou) and 3 geosites are endokarstic (Chiker cave, Ras El Oued, Chaâra cave). These geosites, presenting various phenomena with remarkable lithological, morphostructural, and paleoclimatic features, hold high scientific value and bear witness to the geological evolution of this region.