- published: 11 Jun 2015
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The Atlas Mountains (Berber: idurar n Watlas, Arabic: جبال الأطلس) is a mountain range across a northern stretch of Africa extending about 2,500 km (1,600 mi) through Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. The highest peak is Toubkal, with an elevation of 4,167 metres (13,671 ft) in southwestern Morocco. The Atlas ranges separate the Mediterranean and Atlantic coastlines from the Sahara Desert. The population of the Atlas Mountains are mainly Berbers. The terms for 'mountain' in some Berber languages are adrar and adras, believed to be cognate with the toponym.
The mountains have been home to a number of plant and animal species unique in Africa, often more like those of Europe; many of them are endangered and some have already gone extinct. Examples include the Barbary Macaque, the Atlas Bear (Africa's only species of bear; now extinct), the Barbary Leopard, the Barbary stag, Barbary Sheep, the Barbary Lion (extinct in the wild), the Atlas Mountain Badger, the North African Elephant (extinct), the African Aurochs (extinct), Cuvier's Gazelle, the Northern Bald Ibis, Dippers, the Atlas mountain viper, the Atlas Cedar, the European Black Pine, and the Algerian Oak.
Fionn Regan is an Irish singer-songwriter and artist from Bray, County Wicklow, who came to prominence in 2006 with the release of his Mercury-nominated debut album, The End of History. In 2010, Regan released his second album, The Shadow of an Empire, with a third, 100 Acres of Sycamore, appearing in 2011. Regan cites Bob Dylan and Neil Young as influences.
Regan's early releases included the single, "Little Miss Drunk" a 7", and two EPs titled Hotel Room, Reservoir, which were released on a small indie label, Anvil Records [1]. He also self-released a 'tour only' EP called Campaign Button. Following these releases, in 2006, Regan signed to former Cocteau Twin Simon Raymonde's independent record label, Bella Union, in the UK, resulting in Regan's debut album The End of History being released on 7 August 2006 to major critical acclaim. A leader of the new 'brit' folk movement, The Guardian saying "Folk has a new Pied Piper"
Following his UK success, Regan was subsequently signed by the American label Lost Highway Records. The End of History was released in the U.S. on July 10, 2007.