Soil Atlas of Africa | Soil Maps Soil Maps | Soil Atlas of Africa82 83

TUNISALGER

Batna

Blida

Granada

Sfax

Oujda

Annaba

Constantine

M†lagaL'Ariana

Oran

S#tif

Ouargla

Touggourt

Bizerte

GuelmaSoukAhras

Almer°a

Tlemcen Biskra

Sousse

Tiaret

Mostaganem

SkikdaTizi Ouzou

Kairouan

Sa˛da

Gharda˛a

Gab=s

B#char

T#bessa

Sidi-Bel-Abb=s

Beja˛a

Djelfa

Laghouat

El OuedMedenine

Kasserine

LaMarsa

Monastir

Nabeul

Motril

Berkane

Jerada

Gafsa

Taza

Maghnia

Erfoud

Ghadƒmis

Mascara

Mohammadia

ErRachidia

ElKef

Khenchela

Al Hoceima

Boufarik

Jijel

Nador

Melilla

A˛nBe˛da

B#ja

Kela$Kebira

Gu#mar

Ech Ch#lif

A˛nT#mouchent

Bou Sa$da

Bou˛ra

Douz

OuledDjellal

Akabli

Benoud

Bi'r'Allƒq

Dzioua

ElAgreb

El Alia

El Mannsour

Foggaretez Zoua

HassiChebaba

Gourrama

Guerara

Hassi BelGuebbour

HassiTimellouline

InBelbel

Kenadsa

Matarka

Messaad

Missour

N'goussa

Outat Ouladel Haj

Rich

Talsinnt

Tolga

Zelfana

Sinƒwan

Djamaa

Jƒdæ

Berriane

ElBayadh

Neftah

Adrar

Aflou

Aoulef

Boudenib

Edjeleh

HassiMessaoud

Igli

InRahr

Kerzaz

Remada

Sbaa

Tabelbala

Tendrara

Tiguentourine

Timimoun

TitafBordj FlyeSte. Marie

Mecheria

Zuwƒrah

Abadla

Daraj

Guercif

InSalah

Nƒlæt

Ohanet

Reggane

Taounate

BordjOmar Driss

MetliliChaamba

Taourirt

Mazarr¢n

Beni Saf

Arzew

Ouenza

Tozeur

Skhira

Zarzis

FiguigT⁄j⁄

Bi'r alMushayq⁄q

Br#zina

A˛nOussera

Bou$rfa

Bou$nane

Charou˛ne

Zarza˛tine

BeniAbb=s

T#n=s

InAm#nas

A˛nSefra

El Gol#a

C. de Gata

C. Bon

At

la

s M

ou

nt a i n s

Ra's Ajdır

Golfe de Hammamet

G. de Tunis

G. de Mazarrón

Baie d'Alger

M e d i t e r a n n e a n S e a

G. de Gabès

M O R O C C O

T U N I S I A

A L G E R I A

L I B Y A

32˚ 30´

37˚ 30´

27˚ 30´

30˚

35˚

32˚ 30´

27˚ 30´

30˚

35˚

37˚ 30´0˚ 5˚ 10˚2˚ 30´5˚

2˚ 30´ 7˚ 30´12˚ 30´

0˚ 5˚ 10˚2˚ 30´ 2˚ 30´ 7˚ 30´

TUNISALGERTUNISALGER

Batna

Blida

Granada

Sfax

Oujda

Annaba

Constantine

M†lagaL'Ariana

Oran Batna

Blida

Granada

Sfax

Oujda

Annaba

Constantine

M†lagaL'Ariana

Oran

S#tifS#tif

Ouargla

Touggourt

Bizerte

GuelmaSoukAhras

Almer°a

Tlemcen Biskra

Sousse

Tiaret

Mostaganem

SkikdaTizi Ouzou

Kairouan

Ouargla

Touggourt

Bizerte

GuelmaSoukAhras

Almer°a

Tlemcen Biskra

Sousse

Tiaret

Mostaganem

SkikdaTizi Ouzou

Kairouan

Sa˛da

Gharda˛a

Gab=s

B#char

T#bessa

Sidi-Bel-Abb=s

Beja˛a

Sa˛da

Gharda˛a

Gab=s

B#char

T#bessa

Sidi-Bel-Abb=s

Beja˛a

Djelfa

Laghouat

El OuedMedenine

Kasserine

LaMarsa

Monastir

Nabeul

Motril

Berkane

Jerada

Gafsa

Taza

Maghnia

Erfoud

Ghadƒmis

Mascara

Mohammadia

ErRachidia

ElKef

Khenchela

Al Hoceima

Boufarik

Jijel

Nador

Melilla

Djelfa

Laghouat

El OuedMedenine

Kasserine

LaMarsa

Monastir

Nabeul

Motril

Berkane

Jerada

Gafsa

Taza

Maghnia

Erfoud

Ghadƒmis

Mascara

Mohammadia

ErRachidia

ElKef

Khenchela

Al Hoceima

Boufarik

Jijel

Nador

Melilla

A˛nBe˛da

B#ja

Kela$Kebira

Gu#mar

Ech Ch#lif

A˛nT#mouchent

Bou Sa$da

Bou˛ra

A˛nBe˛da

B#ja

Kela$Kebira

Gu#mar

Ech Ch#lif

A˛nT#mouchent

Bou Sa$da

Bou˛ra

Douz

OuledDjellal

Akabli

Benoud

Bi'r'Allƒq

Dzioua

ElAgreb

El Alia

El Mannsour

Foggaretez Zoua

HassiChebaba

Gourrama

Guerara

Hassi BelGuebbour

HassiTimellouline

InBelbel

Kenadsa

Matarka

Messaad

Missour

N'goussa

Outat Ouladel Haj

Rich

Talsinnt

Tolga

Zelfana

Sinƒwan

Djamaa

Jƒdæ

Berriane

ElBayadh

Neftah

Adrar

Aflou

Aoulef

Boudenib

Edjeleh

HassiMessaoud

Igli

InRahr

Kerzaz

Remada

Sbaa

Tabelbala

Tendrara

Tiguentourine

Timimoun

TitafBordj FlyeSte. Marie

Mecheria

Zuwƒrah

Abadla

Daraj

Guercif

InSalah

Nƒlæt

Ohanet

Reggane

Taounate

BordjOmar Driss

MetliliChaamba

Taourirt

Mazarr¢n

Beni Saf

Arzew

Ouenza

Tozeur

Skhira

Zarzis

Figuig

Douz

OuledDjellal

Akabli

Benoud

Bi'r'Allƒq

Dzioua

ElAgreb

El Alia

El Mannsour

Foggaretez Zoua

HassiChebaba

Gourrama

Guerara

Hassi BelGuebbour

HassiTimellouline

InBelbel

Kenadsa

Matarka

Messaad

Missour

N'goussa

Outat Ouladel Haj

Rich

Talsinnt

Tolga

Zelfana

Sinƒwan

Djamaa

Jƒdæ

Berriane

ElBayadh

Neftah

Adrar

Aflou

Aoulef

Boudenib

Edjeleh

HassiMessaoud

Igli

InRahr

Kerzaz

Remada

Sbaa

Tabelbala

Tendrara

Tiguentourine

Timimoun

TitafBordj FlyeSte. Marie

Mecheria

Zuwƒrah

Abadla

Daraj

Guercif

InSalah

Nƒlæt

Ohanet

Reggane

Taounate

BordjOmar Driss

MetliliChaamba

Taourirt

Mazarr¢n

Beni Saf

Arzew

Ouenza

Tozeur

Skhira

Zarzis

FiguigT⁄j⁄

Bi'r alMushayq⁄q

Br#zina

A˛nOussera

Bou$rfa

Bou$nane

Charou˛ne

Zarza˛tine

BeniAbb=s

T#n=s

InAm#nas

A˛nSefra

El Gol#a

T⁄j⁄

Bi'r alMushayq⁄q

Br#zina

A˛nOussera

Bou$rfa

Bou$nane

Charou˛ne

Zarza˛tine

BeniAbb=s

T#n=s

InAm#nas

A˛nSefra

El Gol#a

C. de Gata

C. Bon

At

la

s M

ou

nt a i n s

C. de Gata

C. Bon

At

la

s M

ou

nt a i n s

Ra's AjdırRa's Ajdır

Golfe de Hammamet

G. de Tunis

G. de Mazarrón

Baie d'Alger

M e d i t e r a n n e a n S e a

Golfe de HammametGolfe de HammametGolfe de Hammamet

G. de TunisG. de TunisG. de Tunis

G. de Mazarrón

G. de Mazarrón

G. de Mazarrón

Baie d'Alger

M e d i t e r a n n e a n S e a

M e d i t e r a n n e a n S e a

M e d i t e r a n n e a n S e a

G. de GabèsG. de GabèsG. de GabèsG. de Gabès

M O R O C C O

T U N I S I A

A L G E R I A

L I B Y A

M O R O C C O

T U N I S I A

A L G E R I A

L I B Y A

0˚ 5˚ 10˚2˚ 30´5˚

2˚ 30´ 7˚ 30´12˚ 30´

0˚ 5˚ 10˚2˚ 30´ 2˚ 30´ 7˚ 30´

32˚ 30´

37˚ 30´

27˚ 30´

30˚

35˚

32˚ 30´

27˚ 30´

30˚

35˚

37˚ 30´

ARpr ARpr

ARpr

ARpr

ARpr

ARprARpr

ARpr

ARpr

ARprARpr

ARpr

ARpr

ARpr

ARpr

ARpr

ARpr

ARpr

ARpr

ARprARpr

ARpr

ARpr

ARpr

ARpr

ARpr

ARpr

ARpr

ARprARpr

ARprARpr

ARpr

ARpr

ARpr

ARpr

ARpr

ARpr

ARpr

ARpr

ARpr

ARpr

ARpr

ARpr

ARpr

CLha

CLha

CLhaCLha

CLha

CLha

CLha

CLha

CLha

CLha

CLha

CLha

CLha

CLha

CLha

CLha

CLha

CLhaCLha

CLha

CLhyCLhy

CLhy

CLhy

CLhy

CLhy

CLhy

CLhy

CLhy

CLhy

CLpt

CLpt

CLptCLpt

CLpt

CLptCLpt

CLpt

CLpt

CLpt

CLpt

CLpt

CLpt

CLpt

CLpt

CLpt

CLpt

CLpt

CLpt

CLpt

CLpt

CM

CM

CMcr

CMcr

CMcr

CMeu

CMeu

CMeu

CMeu

CMeu

CMeu

CMeu

CMeu

CMeuCMeu

CMeu

CMeu

CMeu

CMeu

CMeu

CMeu

CMeu

CMeu

CMeu

CMeu

CMeu

CMeu

CMeu

CMeu

CMeu

CMeu

CMeu

CMeu

CMeu

CMeu

CMeu

CMhy

FLca

FLca

FLcaFLca

FLca

FLca

FLca FLcaFLca FLca

FLca FLca

FLca

FLcaFLca

FLca

FLca FLca

FLcaFLca

FLca

FLca

FLca

FLca

FLca

FLca

FLca

FLca

FLca

FLca

FLca

FLca

FLca

FLca

FLca

FLca

FLca

FLca

FLca

FLca

FLca

GYhy

GYhy

GYhy

GYhy

GYhy

GYhy

GYhy

GYhy

GYhy

GYpt

GYpt

GYpt

GYpt

GYpt

KS

KScc

LP

LP

LP

LP

LP

LPLP

LPli

LPli

LPli

LPli LPli LPli

LPli

LPliLPli

LPli

LPli LPli

LPli LPli

LPli

LPli

LPli

LPli

LPli

LPli

LPli

LPli

LPli

LPli

LPli

LPli

LPli

LPli

LPli

LPli

LPli

LPli

LPli

LPli

LPrz

LPrzLPrz

LPrz

LPrz

LVab

LVcr

LVcr

LVcr

LVcr

LVcr

LVcr

LVcr

LVcr

LVcr

LVgl

LVha NTeu

RGca

RGca

RGca

RGca

RGdy

SC

SC

SC

SC

SC SC

SCSC

SC

SCSC

SCSC

SC

SC

SC

SC

SC

SC

SC

SCglSCgl SCgl

SCgl

SCgl

SCha

SChaSCha

SChaSCha

SCha

SCha

SCha

SCha

SCht

SNha

SNha

SNha

VRhaVRhaVRha

VRpeVRpe

VRpe

VRpe

This map shows the soils of eastern Morocco, northern Algeria, Tunisia and western Libya. The major landscape features in this region are the Atlas Mountain range and the hot and arid Sahara Desert. The mountains manifest themselves as a band of stony Leptosols running NE-SW across the map, decreasing in elevation towards the east. Along the coast, a Mediterranean climate, with mild wet winters and hot dry summers, prevails. However, precipitation decreases away from the coast. In the west, the southern edge of the Atlas denotes the beginning of the Sahara Desert where semi-arid conditions quickly grade into desert (daily temperatures can rise above 40°C, rainfall is irregular). To the east, the lack of elevation makes conditions hotter and drier. In more humid mountainous areas, extensive oak and conifer forests occur. At lower elevations, intensive clearance and grazing have produced a distinctive scrubby landscape known as macquis. Olive trees are common in the coastal plains. In the arid desert areas, there is little natural vegetation although the date palm is extensively cultivated in oases.

To the north of the Atlas mountains, soils with high levels of calcium carbonate (Calcisols) dominate the landscape, especially in drier conditions. While many of these soils are suitable for agriculture, water availability is a key constraint. More humid conditions along the Mediterranean give rise to more vegetation and more developed, clay-rich soils such Luvisols, Kastanozems and Cambisols. Vertisols are quite pronounced along the north-eastern Algerian coast and into Tunisia. These soils support extensive cereal cultivation in the winter and grazing in the summer.

To the south of the Atlas Mountains, conditions are much more arid and daytime temperatures are significantly higher. Soils are characterised by minimal development and low or negligible organic matter content. Regosols, stony Leptosols and soils with accumulations of gypsum (Gypsisols) dominate – especially in south-central Tunisia. Arenosols denote the locations of large sand seas and dunes.

Saline soils occur in depressions across the region. The chotts of Algeria and Tunisia are closed flat-bottomed basins of salt and clay accumulation that are periodically covered by water which either slowly infiltrates into the groundwater system or evaporates into the atmosphere, causing the deposition of salt. In basins dominated by groundwater inputs, sediment influxes are low and saline crusts dominate. Highly soluble sodium chloride tends to be found in the centre of the chotts with less-soluble sulphates and carbonates at the outer margin.

The blue linear features are Fluvisols, demarcating river systems in the region. Many are ephemeral in nature (i.e. dry for much of the year). In northern regions, many are intensively cultivated.

Where the soils have a well developed structure, and moderate levels of organic matter, clay and water are available, many Mediterranean soils are quite productive. However, excessive lime and the presence of salts can be problematic. Away from the coast, the increasing semi-arid conditions generally lead to poorly developed soils that are vulnerable to degradation by human activities such as overgrazing which can lead to erosion, especially by flash flooding after intense rainfall. Soil organic carbon levels are generally low or very low and droughts are common. Desertification is key concern throughout the region.

SCALE 1:3 000 0001 CENTIMETRE = 30 KILOMETRES; 1 INCH = 47.3 MILES

PROJECTION: Lambert Azimuthal

0 200 km100

100 miles500

84

90 91

81Plate 2 | E Morocco, N Algeria, Tunisia, W Libya