NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE SURVEY 48; MOROCCO; MILITARY GEOGRAPHY

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• Collection: NIS
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP01-00707R000200080030-4
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CONFIDENTIAL
48 /GS /MG
Morocco
March 1973
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE SURVEY
CONFIDENTIAL
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This Chapter was prepared for the NIS by the
Defense Intelligence Agenc!s. Research was
substantially completed by Novr1 1972.
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orocco
CONTENTS
This General Survey supersedes the one dated Jan-
uary 1969, copies of which should be destroyed.
Page
A. Location and description
1. Topography 1
Overview of landscape, vegetation, draniage
network, -.nd settlement and transportation
patterns.
2. Climate 3
Summary of climatic elements seasonal var-
iations, precipitation, cloudiness, relative hu-
midity, temperature, frontal systems, thunder-
storms, and visibility.
B. Military geographic regions 6
Effect of terrain on operations by conventional
ground forces, airmobile and airborne forces, am-
phibious forces, and irregular forces for each of
the following regions:
1. Atlas Highlands 6
2. Coastal Plain 7
3. Sahara Desert 8
CONFLDENT
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Page
C. Strategic areas 9
Analysis of the site, population, primary activitier,
key transportation elements, nationally significant
industries, and petroleum storage fir each of the
following areas:
1. Casablanca -Rabat 9
2. Strait of Gibraltar 10
D. Internal routes 11
Description of terrain, road and railroad charac-
teristics, and offroad dispersal and cross country
movement potentials along land routes to and
between strategic areas.
Page
E. Approaches 11
Data on lengths, legal status, and terrain of land
and water boundaries.
1 Land
Approach conditions by road and railroad and
the effect of terrain on offroad dispersal and
cross- country movement.
2 Sea
Conditions for amphibious approach to the
roast, and pertinent data for those amphibious
landing areas that provide the best a,;ceni io
the strategic areas.
3 Air
Air approach routes to Morocco and likely
weather conditions en route.
FIGURES
11
12
13
ii
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Page
Page
Fig. 1
Military geographic regions and ter-
Fig.
10
Casablanca -Rabat strategic area (map)
11
rain (map)
2
Fig.
11
Casablanca commercial section
Fig. 2
Western Atlas Mountains photo)
3
photo)
11
Fig. 3
Southeastern Atlas Mountains photo)
3
Fig.
12
Rabat photo)
12
Fig. 4
Intermontane plain near Agadir
Fig.
13
Strait of Gibraltar strategic area (map)
12
photo)
4
Fig.
14
Tangier photo)
13
Fig. 5
Village scene photo)
4
Fig.
15
Internal routes tat; ie)
14
Fig. 6
Coastal plains near Casablanca (photo)
5
Fig.
16
Boundaries table)
15
Fig. 7
Dissected desert in southwest photo)
5
Fig.
17
Amphibious landing areas table)
16
Fig. 8
Monthly climatic data chart)
6
Fig.
18
Factors in air approaches table)
18
Fig. 9
Strategic areas, internal routes, and
Fig.
19
Terrain and Transportation
approaches map)
10
map) follows
18
ii
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Military Geography
A. Location and description (U /OU)
Morocco, located in the extreme northwestern part
of Africa, occupies the important southern flank of the
Strait of Gibraltar (Figure 19). The country has an
area of approximately 18,100 square miles, slightly
over one -half the size of the state of Texas. It has a
maximum northeast southwest length of about 850
miles.' The population of the country, estimated in
mid -1972 at 15.8 million, is now about 16 million.
Two Spanish enclaves are also mentioned in this
discussion: the cities of Ceuta, population 88,000, and
Melilla, population 77,000.
1. Topography
Morocco consists of the rugged hills and mountains
of the Atlas Mountains, which occupy most of the
country, and two narrow plains. one along the
Atlantic coast and the other along the southern and
southeastern border of the country Figure t The hills
and mountains (Figures 2 and 3) extend in generally
parallel ridges along almost the entire northeast
southwest axis of the country The hills north and west
of the mountains are deeply dissected and have
elevations generally ranging between 1,000 and 4,000
feet; those east and south of the mountains are equally
rugged but have elevations primarily ranging be,weell
2,000 and 5,000 feet. The mountains range from 5,000
to 6,000 feet above sea level, although some high
ridges reach over 10,000 feet and isolated crests reach
maximum elevations of over 13,000 feet; the highest
elevation is 13,665 feet, south of Marrakech. Most
valley floors are from 3,000 to 5,000 feet below
adjacent mountain crests. Lower slopes range from
10% to 30% and upper slopes from 50% to more than
100 There are a few, scattered, broad intermontane
basins (Figure 4), and large flat to rolling plains are in
the high elevations in the northeast and along the
southwestern Atlantic coast, south of Agadir.
Vegetation consists primarily of brush and grasses on
the slopes of the mountains and, to a lesser extent, in
'Distances are in statute miles unless nautical miles are
specifically indicated.
the intcnnontane valleys. Bunch grass covers most hills
and the asternmost mountains. Moderately dense
needle -leaf evergreen forests are scattered throughout
the hills and mountains but are most prevalent north
of the major crestline. Slopes adjacent to the Sahara
desert are barren. The density of vegetation tends to
decrease from northwest to southeast. Numerous
narrow and deep perennial streams flow toward the
Atlantic Ocean or Mediterranean Sea through steep
sided valleys in the hills and mountains and through
wide, shallow streambeds in the coastal plain.
Intermittent streams are characteristic of the southern
and eastern parts of the hills and mountains. During
mid November through March, the wet s( -ason, the
ground is frequently wet in large areas and is snow
covered and frozen at elevations exceeding 7,000 feet
on the northern mountain flanks and above 10,000
feet on the southern mountain flanks. Washouts and
landslides occur in many places during the wet season.
Flooding is most common in March and April, \yhen
snowmelt coincides with the relatively heavy spring
rains. The few large urban centers in the highlands,
Fes, Meknes, and Marrakech, contain buildings of
mud brick, stone, brick, and concrete and are
connected by roads in generally poor to fair condition.
Numerous towns and villages with buildings generally
of mud -brick or stone (Figure 5) are connected by
tracks and roads in generally poor condition.
The narrow coastal plain extends along the Atlantic
Ocean from near Essaouira to Tangier. The surface is
flat to rolling (Figure. 6) and has elevations ranging
from sea level to 760 feet. Most slopes are gentle,
behveen 2% and 10 The plain is it mosaic of small
grainficlds, orchards, fallow fields, uncultivated areas
partially covered by patches of grass and low brush,
and very small park -like evergreen forests. Soils are
composed of silty sand and are predominantly dry
except in the north. Northeast of Kenitra, a large area
is wet continuously from early November through
May. Along major streams in the north there are
several relatively large areas that are often wet or are
'For diacritics on place names, see the list of names on the apron
of the Transportation Map, Figure 19, the map itself, and maps in
the text.
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1 32'
1 28'
n
oun!
Z
R
C
801.1
026
I A
A L G E It
ISH SAH
1 1)� (1 2'
COASTAL PLAIN
Feet
12000-
9000 Casablanca I
6000-
3000-
AO
PROFILE
ATLAS HIGHLANDS
SAHARA DESERT
f
JESEL�RKEDIT
1 3,356 A
lId Tagolini t
(hh"/ 1911 I'l 1! i
Meters
3660
2700
1800
900
0
0 50 100 150 200 250 290 B
Statute miles
Approximate Vertical Exaggeration 25:1
'2" I
8 1
FIGURE 1. Military geographic regions and terrain (C)
2
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Local relief*
6-
SPAIN
J' 6 G1F3RALTAR
(U. K.)
.1 1 /1
if I Ale
Ceuta
Plaim, 0 to 500 feet
(Spain)
J"
Tangier.,
I SEA f
Hills 500 to 2,000 feet
Mountains Over 2.000 feet
Larache
Forest 0 Swamp or marsh
ny
5 ALGERIA
Military Geographic Region boundary
-7018
Spot height (in feet)
Kenitra
Differences in elevation between tops and
RABAT
2 726
bottoms
of adjacent topographic features
Casablaiic;
0 M eknes
0
50 100 150 Statute miles
El
Ja
A 1
0
50 100 150 Kilometers
02638 A ir
a
10*
522
0 Khouri a 7491_
JJ
A 7' L A N 7' C
Safi
12
Essaoqir
H
C' Mar,
0 C E .4 X
4130
339
Agadir
n
oun!
Z
R
C
801.1
026
I A
A L G E It
ISH SAH
1 1)� (1 2'
COASTAL PLAIN
Feet
12000-
9000 Casablanca I
6000-
3000-
AO
PROFILE
ATLAS HIGHLANDS
SAHARA DESERT
f
JESEL�RKEDIT
1 3,356 A
lId Tagolini t
(hh"/ 1911 I'l 1! i
Meters
3660
2700
1800
900
0
0 50 100 150 200 250 290 B
Statute miles
Approximate Vertical Exaggeration 25:1
'2" I
8 1
FIGURE 1. Military geographic regions and terrain (C)
2
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subject to flooding from early November to mid- April.
Coastal dunes constrict some river mouths in the
north, and these streams commonly flood during the
.yet season. During April through October nearly all
streams are dry or have only limited amounts Gf poor
quality water. Many of the major urban centers of the
country are located on the coastal plain and are
connected by railroads and paved roads. Casablanca,
Rabat, and 'Tangier, the principal cities, have large
sections of modern one- to 10 -story buildings of
concrete and steel, cut stone, and brick and wide,
straight streets. Smaller citie and towns, as well as the
older sections of the principal cities, are characterized
by closely spaced one- to three store buildings
commonly constructed of mud -brick or stone and
narrow, winding streets.
The narrow irregidar plain that flanks the Atlas
Mountains in the south is a dry, sandy, and rocky
section of the Sahara desert. Elevations range from sea
level oil the Atlantic coast to 1,500 feet in the south
central part and to over 3,000 feet in the northeast.
'I'll( surface is flat to rolling but is broken in pla-es b\
broad, deep, river valleys, escarpments, long, lo\y.
sinuous ridges (Figiire 7 and a fe\y small, scattered
area of dunes. Vegetation is sparse and consists nwstly
of tufts of grass, lo\y shru`.)s, and, along the courses of
the major streams, a few date -palm oases. The steep
sided wadies contain water only for short periods
during the winter rains. Oases and a fey fish
processing plants along the coast arc the sites of the
only permanent settlements in the desert plain and are
connected by a sparse network of tracks, trails, and
roads in generally poor condition.
2. Climate
The climate of Morocco is essentially M( diter-
ranean north of and well into the Atlas Mountains and
mostly desert south of the mountains. The northern
3
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Preavnnnuln

mWP9P..._W K
Mir .10414L
region has mild, wet winters (December through
February) and hot, dry summers (June through
August). In the southern region, winters are similarly
mild but summers are exceedingly hot; rainfall is
meager all year in this region (Figure 8). Migratory
lows and attendant fronts from the Atlantic are the
primary cause of inclement weather. Nyhile incursions
of the Azores high mainly bring fine, sunny weather.
Weather conditions during winter are quite
changeable. Periods of cool, cloudy, and showery
weather alternate with periods of sunny, pleasant
weather. Clo.idiness is variable, \yith monthly
averages of 3551 to 55 cloud cover: cloud amounts
C&_3
.t
.N f
FIGURE 5. Most villages are con-
structed of closely spaced mud
brick or stone buildings; roofs
generally are flat (U /OU)
are greatest in the northern sections and least south o f
Hie Atlas range. Ctumulus is the most comn1or, Cloud
type. Precipitation is mostly lo,al intermittent
showers, heavy at times, and only occasionally
Nyi(I espread and prolonged. 'I'h;rniderstorms are
infrequent. 'Monthly precipitation amount, of to i
inches in the northern sections and 1 to 3 inches in the
south are usual. I leas :est falls occur on the northern
slopes and on the high ground of the Atlas Mountains,
where snow is common and i t snow coyer may persist
throughout the winter. Afternoon temperatures are
mild oo the coasts and at logy elevations in the interior,
averaging in the upper 50's �F. and 60's, but are 10
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FIGURE 4. The few intermontane plains scattered throughout the Atlas Mountains have
nearly flat to gently rolling surfaces with low hills in places (C)

FIGURE 6. The plains along the
northern and central Atlantic coast
have flat to gently rolling surfaces
less than 1,000 feet above sea level.
In this area near Casablanca, vege-
tation is a mosaic of cultivated field
crops, fallow fields, brush pastures,
and small park -like evergreen
forests. (C)
to 20 degrees colder in the mountains. Nights are cool
in all sections except in the mountains, where freezing
temperatures and frosts are common. Relative
humidity remains high throughout the day at most
places except over the desert, where humidity is low in
the afternoon. I'he prevailing good visibilities are
briefly interrupted during occasional showers and
morning fog. Surface winds are nostly light and
variable.
FIGURE 7. The desert plains southwest of the Atlas
Mountains are deeply dissected; escarpments and
low, sinuous ridges are common features. Vegetation
is sparse. (U /OU)
Conversely, weather conditions during summer are
quite monotonous. Long periods of cloudless skies
occur throughout the interior, where average cloud
cover is only 20% to -Wit. On the coasts, average cloud
cover is slightly greater mainly because of frequent low
stratus overcasts at night and in early inorning. This
condition is especially narked on the Atlantic coast
south of 32 �N. Long periods of rainless days are
common everywhere except on the northern slopes and
high ground of the Atlas Mountains; here,
thunderstorms occur on about 5 days monthly in May
through September. 'I'hc most prominent summer
feature is t}tc� intense heat. Daily temperatures are
moderated by the sea along the immediate coast and,
along with moderate humidity, produce a relatively
comfortable condition. Afternoon temperatures
average in the 70's �F. and low 80's, decreasing to the
middle 60's by early morning. In the interior, however,
temperatures rapidly rise to the upper 90's and 100's
daily; some of the highest temperatures in the world,
exceeding 120 0 1-'
are recorded on the desert. 'I'hc
extreme heat in conjunction with the very low
afternoon htimidih is severely desiccating and causes
exposed skin to crack. 'I'emperatures decrease rapidly
at night to the upper 60's or low 70's, while relative
humidities increase. Visibilitv continues good in most
sections except where occasionally restricted by dust in
the. interior and by morning fog along the coast. On
the coast, land and sea breezes are well developed
during this season. Elsewhere, surface winds continue
light and variable, becoming locally strong only
during severe thunderstorms.
5
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CASABLANCA Ft5 OUARZAZATE
J(1 3D too too, --r-r too. I r- 1- r- r -i-T1
4 0
Fes; 15 80 80 06 0 80
Ifrane 1 j l
15 O 60 CD 60 1 1 I 60 I V
sablanca
Fi9uig 5 40 40 Y I 4D Q5
milCN I Ic ,III l l
20 20 I 20
Ouarzazate I
0 0 0
J FMAM)1A50NDJ 1FMAMJJASONDJ 1FMAMJ JASONDJ
5 MEAN RELATIVE HUMIDITY AT SPECIFIED HOURS (LST)
CASABLANCA IMILCHIL FIGUIG
120 120 -7--- 120
MEAN ANNUAL PRECIPITATION (INCHES) j
]D0 IDO p 100
I 1 LI III I I
80
IFRANE FIGUIG
10 Iv- 60 60 I +I +I 60 4.
ABSOLUTE MAXIMUM
MEAN DAILY MAXIMUM AO 40 1 r
5 5 20 20 20 r I
I r
MEAN DAILY MINIMUM 0 I 1 Y 0 I D
s ABSOLUTE MINIMUM I l
0 1FMAMJJASOND 0 1FMAMJJASOND 20 JFMAMJJASON 20 1FMAM1JASON 20 JIMA"I1 ASON
ELEV. 164 FT. ELEV. 7218 FT. ELEV. 3723 FT.