When we speak of the Maghreb, we think of Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. But the Maghreb is also composed of Libya to the east and Mauritania to the west. Five countries make up the Maghreb, this sub-Saharan region in the north of the African continent.

From East to West, the five Maghreb countries.

Libya

The desert mainly occupies the Maghreb. Libya is no exception to the rule, and the desert predominates. For example, the Fezzan region receives less than 20 millimetres of rainfall per year, and Libya is made up of three central areas: Tripolitania, the Fezzan region and Cyrenaica. The Fezzan region is located in the southwest of the country, a region bordered by Algeria, Chad and Niger, but it is also in Libya that one finds the hottest place on earth.

Tunisia

This small country in north-eastern Africa is also one of the most welcoming.

This country has 1,566 kilometres of coastline. Algeria borders this country to the west and Libya. The country covers an area of 163,610 square kilometres and has a population of 11.7 million people.

Algeria, the largest country in the Maghreb

One of the largest countries in the world is located in the heart of the Maghreb. With its 2,381,743 km², Algeria is logically the largest country in the Maghreb. Algeria has a population of more than 42 million and is the most populous country in the Maghreb.

The Kingdom of Morocco

The Kingdom of Morocco is often considered the most beautiful country in the Maghreb. With its 3,600 kilometres of coastline, Morocco enjoys a relatively mild climate along the Mediterranean Sea as well as along the Atlantic Ocean. Morocco’s highest point is Djebel Toubkal, at 4,165 metres it is the ninth highest peak in Africa. In Morocco, there are five mountain ranges, the Jebel, Rif, Middle Atlas, High Atlas and Anti Atlas. For your information, the Middle Atlas is considered to be the most significant water reserve in the whole country. Only 2.5% of Morocco’s territory is covered by water, while the Sahara desert also occupies Morocco’s desert. It is towards the Algerian border at Erg Chebbi and Erg Chegaga that we find the highest dunes, some of which are about two hundred meters high.

Mauritania

Located in northwest Africa, Mauritania is the westernmost country in the Maghreb.

This country of more than one million square kilometres is the eleventh largest country in Africa. Mauritania has a population of about 4 million inhabitants with a density of 4 inhabitants per km2.

Characteristics of the Maghreb

However, this geographical area covers almost five million square kilometres. A single country, Algeria occupies half of this area. The same applies to the population, which is about 90 million, almost half of whom live in Algeria, the most populous country.

Nevertheless, the population of the Maghreb is no less heterogeneous. For example, there are Kabyle and Berber peoples, but also sedentary or nomadic peoples who blend into an Arab-Berber culture specific to the Maghreb. To the north, the Maghreb is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea and in Morocco by the Strait of Gibraltar and the Atlantic Ocean.

South of the Maghreb is the Sahara, one of the largest deserts in the world.

photos credits: Fred (Libya), Yann