Parc national de Toubkal

Toubkal National Park in Morocco and Great Basin National Park established a formal Sister Park Agreement in May 2016, which encourages international collaboration and sharing of information between parks. Toubkal National Park, created in 1942, was the first National Park in Morocco. They are celebrating the 80th anniversary in 2022, while we are also celebrating the 100th anniversary of Lehman Caves National Monument! The National Park covers roughly 147 square miles of the High Atlas Mountains in central-western Morocco and has approximately 40,000 visitors each year. Despite being on an entirely different continent than Great Basin, the two National Parks are connected through their common environments and goals.

Jbel Toubkal—the tallest peak in Toubkal National Park and North Africa—and Great Basin’s Mount Wheeler both tower over the landscape at elevations higher than 13,000 feet. Below Jbel Toubkal’s peak lies deep valleys, an alpine lake, forests, and grasslands–all full of remarkable flora and fauna. Biodiversity in Great Basin and Toubkal National Parks is exceptionally high, as both parks have many of their own endemic species, which are species that only exist in their respective areas. For example, of the over 70 species of butterflies present, 11 butterfly species are unique to Toubkal National Park. Toubkal National Park is also home to endangered or threatened species, such as the Barbary sheep, Bearded Vulture, Barbary Macaque, and thuriferous juniper. The thuriferous juniper and holm oak forests of the High Atlas Mountains resemble the utah juniper and bristlecone pine forests of Great Basin, as they are both capable of growing in harsh environmental conditions yet vulnerable to human impact and climate change.

Toubkal National Park has been home to the Amazigh peoples, who have lived off of and sustained this area and the surrounding Atlas Mountain region, long before a National Park was created. The Amazigh peoples continue to graze sheep, farm, and serve as guides for Jbel Toubkal and the surrounding region. Being led by one of these guides is a great way to experience the rich culture of the Amazigh peoples, who have called these mountains home for about 10,000 years, predating any Arab settlement in Morocco. There are many petroglyphs to be seen within Toubkal National Park, some dating as far back as 8,000 years ago, highlighting their long inhabitation of this area. Today, Great Basin also protects some very important cultural sites. Such sites include the Upper Pictograph Cave, which was painted by members of the Fremont culture approximately in 1000-1300 B.C.E.

Great Basin and Toubkal National Parks prioritize the preservation of the biodiversity of their environments, promotion of sustainable environmental tourism, protection of cultural resources, and environmental education. Though there is no requirement to do so, Great Basin and Toubkal National Parks will hopefully continue to support each other with reaching these goals.

Take virtual tours of Toubkal National Park, visit theirofficial website, or check out their Facebook page to learn more!