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The Karst Landscapes of Beni Mellal Atlas (Central Morocco): Identification for Promoting Geoconservation and Tourism

Abdellah Ait Barka
Abdellah Ait Barka
, 
Jamila Rais
Jamila Rais
, 
Ahmed Barakat
Ahmed Barakat
, 
Elhassan Louz
Elhassan Louz
 und 
Samir Nadem
Samir Nadem
   | 19. Aug. 2022
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Online veröffentlicht: 19. Aug. 2022
Seitenbereich: 87 - 109
Eingereicht: 01. März 2022
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/quageo-2022-0027
Schlüsselwörter
© 2022 Abdellah Ait Barka et al., published by Sciendo
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Fig. 1

Location of the study area.a) Map of Morocco showing the geographical position of the study area, b) map of the study area.
Location of the study area.a) Map of Morocco showing the geographical position of the study area, b) map of the study area.

Fig. 2

a) The geological map of the study area. Extracted by the geological map of Morocco 1:100,000. Sheet of Béni Mellal, Afourer and Kasba Tadla. b) Litho-stratigraphic log of Beni Mellal Atlas.
a) The geological map of the study area. Extracted by the geological map of Morocco 1:100,000. Sheet of Béni Mellal, Afourer and Kasba Tadla. b) Litho-stratigraphic log of Beni Mellal Atlas.

Fig. 3

Geomorphological synthesis map.
Geomorphological synthesis map.

Fig. 4

The most springs visited by tourists and hikers.(a, b) Spring of Ain Asserdoune. (c), (d) Spring of Taghbalout Ouhlima. (e) Spring of Tamoudjout. (f) Springs of Ochrah.
The most springs visited by tourists and hikers.(a, b) Spring of Ain Asserdoune. (c), (d) Spring of Taghbalout Ouhlima. (e) Spring of Tamoudjout. (f) Springs of Ochrah.

Fig. 5

Hydrogeological section showing the emergence conditions of Ain Asserdoune, Beni Mellal.
Hydrogeological section showing the emergence conditions of Ain Asserdoune, Beni Mellal.

Fig. 6

The important sinkholes in the Study Area.(a) Sinkholes River at the level of El Ksiba. (b) Sinkhole at the Orbia developed to retain water. (c) Sinkhole at the level of El Ksiba. (d) Polje at the level of Tassemit. (e) Polje at the site of Tazerkount. (f) Giant Polje at El Ksiba filled with alteration products of clays and limestones.
The important sinkholes in the Study Area.(a) Sinkholes River at the level of El Ksiba. (b) Sinkhole at the Orbia developed to retain water. (c) Sinkhole at the level of El Ksiba. (d) Polje at the level of Tassemit. (e) Polje at the site of Tazerkount. (f) Giant Polje at El Ksiba filled with alteration products of clays and limestones.

Fig. 7

The travertine, canyon and waterfalls of Moudj.(a) waterfall of Timskar. (b) Moudj waterfall. (c) Canyon of Moudj, (d) El Ksiba travertine.
The travertine, canyon and waterfalls of Moudj.(a) waterfall of Timskar. (b) Moudj waterfall. (c) Canyon of Moudj, (d) El Ksiba travertine.

Fig. 8

The ruiniform landscapes of the Orbia site of varying shapes and sizes.(a) Panoramic view of the Orbia site. (b), (c), (d), (e) The different shapes of the ruiniform landscapes of the Orbia site.
The ruiniform landscapes of the Orbia site of varying shapes and sizes.(a) Panoramic view of the Orbia site. (b), (c), (d), (e) The different shapes of the ruiniform landscapes of the Orbia site.

Fig. 9

The ruiniform landscapes of Ain el Ghazi site of varying shapes and sizes.(a), (b), (d), (e) The different shapes of the ruiniform landscapes of the Ain el Ghazi site. (c) Panoramic view of the Ain el Ghazi site and city of Beni Mellal.
The ruiniform landscapes of Ain el Ghazi site of varying shapes and sizes.(a), (b), (d), (e) The different shapes of the ruiniform landscapes of the Ain el Ghazi site. (c) Panoramic view of the Ain el Ghazi site and city of Beni Mellal.

Fig. 10

The different caves encountered in the study area.(a) Caves of the cliffs of Timoulilte. (b) Caves of the cliffs of Tit n’ziza at dir d’El Ksiba. (c) Cave of the cliffs of Tanougha. (c) Cave of Tazart n’amar at Tanougha. (e) Cave of Foum El Ancer. (f) View from inside Foum El Ancer cave. (g) Cave of Orbiaa site. (h) Stalactites inside Orbiaa cave.
The different caves encountered in the study area.(a) Caves of the cliffs of Timoulilte. (b) Caves of the cliffs of Tit n’ziza at dir d’El Ksiba. (c) Cave of the cliffs of Tanougha. (c) Cave of Tazart n’amar at Tanougha. (e) Cave of Foum El Ancer. (f) View from inside Foum El Ancer cave. (g) Cave of Orbiaa site. (h) Stalactites inside Orbiaa cave.

Fig. 11

Cliffs and karren of Moudj.(a) Giant grikes. (b) Incipient karren. (c) Freeze and thaw karren. (d) Grikes. (e) Limestone of the massive carbonates of Liass lower Sineurian age fossilized from the Gastropods and Lamellibranchs.
Cliffs and karren of Moudj.(a) Giant grikes. (b) Incipient karren. (c) Freeze and thaw karren. (d) Grikes. (e) Limestone of the massive carbonates of Liass lower Sineurian age fossilized from the Gastropods and Lamellibranchs.

Fig. 12

Geotouristic map of the study area.
Geotouristic map of the study area.

Fig. 13

Moudj canon geo-hiking trail.
Moudj canon geo-hiking trail.

List of selected and evaluated geosites.

No Name Commune Code Scientific value Additional value
1 Spring of Ain Asserdoune Beni Mellal BEMhyd001 0.95 0.59
2 Spring of Ain El Ghazi Foum El Ancer FOMhyd002 0.80 0.12
3 Karren Moudj Foum El Ancer FOMkar003 0.90 0.34
4 Ruiniform landscapes of Moudj Foum El Ancer FOMkar004 0.90 0.21
5 Canyon of Hansala Tagzirt TAGkar005 0.90 0.28
6 Canyon of Moudj Foum El Ancer FOMkar006 0.90 0.25
7 Timskar Waterfalls Foum El Ancer FOMkar007 0.90 0.25
8 Tazerkount Ruiniformes Landscapes Afourer AFOkar008 0.65 0.25
9 Ruiniformes Landscapes of Oribaa Beni Mellal BEMkar009 0.95 0.40
10 Caves of Orbiaa Beni Mellal BEMkar010 0.80 0.21
11 Caves of Ain El ghazi Foum El Ancer FOAkar011 0.60 0.21
12 Ain Orbiaa Beni Mellal BEMkar012 0.95 0.28
13 Ruiniformes Landscapes of Tassemit Beni Mellal BEMkar012 0.55 0.21
14 travertines of Timskar Foum El Ancer FOAhyd013 0.80 0.25
15 Tazzerkount Tepee Structures Afourer AFOsed013 0.80 0.25
16 travertines of El Ksiba EL Ksiba ELKhyd014 0,80 0.18
17 Ruiniformes Landscapes of ELKsiba EL Ksiba ELKkar014 0.85 0.18
18 Fossils of Moudj Foum El Ancer FOApal014 0.95 0.21
19 Panoramic view of Rurate Afourer AFOant015 0.95 0.18
20 Spring of Lala Kamria Foum El Ancer FOAhyd016 0.65 0.28
21 Spring of Ouchrah Tagzirt TAGhyd017 0.95 0.59

Methodology used (based on Reynard et al. 2016).

Geomorhosites inventory Assessment of intrinsic value Characteristics of use and management
Identification of potential sites

Field work

Existing bibliography

Geological and geomorphological map

 Scientific values

Integrity

Representativeness

Rarity

Paleogeographic

 Protection

Protection status

Attacks and threats
Selection geomorphosites

High scientific value

Representativeness of local geomorphology

Aesthetic

 Additional values

Cultural value

Ecological value

Aesthetic value

Economic value

 Promotion

Accessibility

Environment

Security

Tourisme infrastructure

Educational interest
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