North Eastern Atlantic

West of the Moroccan coast, the northeastern Atlantic is crossed by the southward-flowing Canary Current. The winds that accompany it encourage cold water to rise along the continental shore, enriching the waters off Africa. To the east lie the coastal headlands of the Safi and Essaouira country; farther south the sea leads towards the Canary Islands. The open water here formed part of the Atlantic world traversed by ships sailing between European and African shores.