The Atlas Mountains are a mountain range in the Maghreb, stretching around 2,500 kilometers through Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. They separate the Atlantic and Mediterranean coastlines from the Sahara Desert. The range was formed by the collision of the African and Eurasian tectonic plates. Toubkal, the highest peak at 4,167 meters, is located in southwestern Morocco. The mountains are primarily inhabited by Berber populations and are home to a variety of flora and fauna unique to Africa, including the endangered Barbary macaque. The range acts as a climatic barrier; the northern slopes receive significant rainfall and even snow, supporting forests and agriculture, while the southern slopes descend into the arid wasteland of the Sahara. This transition creates a dramatic variety of ecosystems ranging from lush cedar forests to dry, rocky foothills.