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Which direction of travel is easiest across the Atlas Mountains?

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Map showing the Atlas Mountains across Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia in North Africa, with color shading to indicate elevation changes. Major mountain ranges, cities, rivers, and physical features such as the High Atlas, Anti-Atlas, Saharan Atlas, and surrounding deserts are labeled. An inset locator map highlights the region's position in northern Africa. — Atlas Mountains The Atlas Mountains.

The Atlas Mountains generally act as a barrier to movement between the Mediterranean basin to the north and the Sahara to the south. Because of this orientation, it is specifically in the east–west direction that the mountain ranges facilitate movement.1

While the mountains serve as an obstacle to traffic, they are not impassable. Communication is localized through natural corridors and mountain passes, such as the Taza Pass or the Biskra Gap, which allow for travel between different regions.2