ALGERIA

Algeria is located in northwest Africa

and bordered by Libya and Morocco. It
is the largest country in Africa. Let's
learn more about Algeria and its people.
MAP OF
ALGERIA
LOCATION
OF SAHARA
DESERT IN
WORLD MAP
LOCATION OF SAHARA IN AFRICA

• The Sahara covers large

parts of Algeria, Chad,
Egypt, Libya, Mali,
Mauritania, Morocco, Niger,
Western Sahara, Sudan and
Tunisia. It covers 9 million
square kilometers.
 With more than 90 percent of its land covered by the
GEOGRAPHY SAHARA DESERT in northern Africa, Algeria is a country
with a history of trade, faith, and conflict. Bordered to the
OF ALGERIA north by the MEDITERRANEAN SEA, Algeria lies between
MOROCCO to the west and TUNISIA to the east.
ORIGIN OF
THE NAME Algeria derives its name from Al Jazain,
which is Arabic for "the Islands,"
referring to the small islands along the
coastline of the capital Algiers. The
indigenous people of Algeria and the
surrounding Mediterranean area were
Berbers, the name given the
inhabitants from western Egypt to
Morocco since ancient times.
CAPITAL OF
ALGERIA
• Algiers is the capital and chief seaport
of Algeria. It is the political, economic,
and cultural center of the country.
• The country’s capital city, Algiers, is
known as ‘Alger la Blanche’ (Algiers
the White) because of its
whitewashed buildings.
• Algiers is built on the slopes of the
Sahel Hills, which parallel the
Mediterranean Sea coast, and it
extends for some 10 miles (16 km)
along the Bay of Algiers.
HISTORY OF ALGERIA

• In ancient times Algeria was known as Numidia.

• The Numidians were known for their army which rode horses.
• Later they were called the Berbers. Being on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea,
the land of Algeria was part of some of the great Mediterranean empires over the
course of history.
• The land was once under the rule of the powerful empire of Carthag but was later
conquered by the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire.
• In the 8th century, the Arabs arrived, and many Armenians converted to the religion
of Islam.
HISTORY OF ALGERIA

• The great empires of the Mediterranean were an important part of the

Algerian history.
• During the Middle Ages, Algeria was led by various tribes and Berber
dynasties.
• In the 1500s, the Spanish Empire arrived and took over several cities and
settlements.
• The Ottoman Empire intervened and soon Algeria became part of the
Ottoman Empire.
HISTORY OF ALGERIA

• In the 1800s the French invaded Algeria. However, many French came
to settle Algeria. France would rule most of Algeria until the 1900s. In
the mid-1900s the Algerians began to rebel against French rule.
• In 1962, Algeria gained its independence and over 1 million French
fled the country.
• In the 1990s there was civil war in Algeria.
• Today there are still many protests in the country with people
wanting freedom of speech and improved living conditions.
 GEPGRAPHY OF
ALGERIA

The Ahaggar Massif is southeast and

the Atlas mountains sit to the north.
The Ahaggar is a large mountainous
plateau region lying in the north-
central SAHARA DESERT.
Moving north, there is a hilly and
narrow coastal plain along the
Mediterranean Sea with a few minor
(small) rivers.
 GEOGRAPHY OF ALGERIA

• The Mediterranean coast in the north is rocky, with scattered sand

beaches. Many bays are formed where the mountains reach the
sea.
• As the home of most Algerians up to the present, the coastal plains
include the big cities and the major industrial centers that were
created by independent Algeria.
• Algeria is the largest country in Africa and located on the
Mediterranean coast between Morocco and Tunisia.
 CLIMATE OF ALGERIA

• The climate in the north is typically Mediterranean: summers are generally hot,
and winters are moderate but can be very rainy.

• In contrast, the High Plains that extend south of the Atlas get far less rain.
Winters can be cold, and summers are hot.

• Four-fifths of the country lies in the Sahara desert. The Sahara is very hot in
summer, with temperatures that can reach more than 50˚C. In winter, daytime
temperatures are comfortable, but night can be freezing cold.
PEOPLE OF
ALGERIA When you imagine Africa, what do you
picture? Grasslands where lions and giraffes
roam? Perhaps dense jungles or deserts?
Native people raising crops and animals?
Some parts of Africa are just as we may have
imagined. But not, the country of The People's
Democratic Republic of Algeria, also simply
called Algeria. Algeria has more in common
with Arab countries than it does with most
countries in Africa. Most people who live here
are either Arab or Berber and Islam is the
official religion.
 PEOPLE OF ALGERIA

• The population is more than 35 million, which are mostly Arabs and Berbers. The
ancestry of Algerians is mixed with descendants from France, Spain and Sub-Saharan
Africans. As a result, Algerians skin, hair and eye color vary.

• Most of the population live on a very small amount of land along the Mediterranean
Sea coastline. Along this coastline is the capital, Algiers, which is home for almost 3.5
million people. That's a lot of Algerians!

• 70 percent of adults can read. More men than women can read because women
have traditionally been encouraged to stay home, rather than attend school.
PEOPLE OF ALGERIA
 PEOPLE OF ALGERIA : BERBERS

• The Berbers are a cluster of peoples who live in North Africa and in the northern
parts of the Saharan countries of MALI, NIGER, and MAURITANIA. The Berbers have
their own languages, and they write in their own scripts. Eventually, they accepted
Islam, the religion of the Arabs.
• Traditionally the Berber economy depended on the herding of livestock, especially
camels, and the farming of grain. Their livelihood is based partly on family farms and
partly on the labor of the men, who spend time working in North African or
European cities and sending money home.
• Many Berbers live in poor and unproductive districts. Most Berbers, however, live in
rural settlements or small towns.
BERBER
S
 RELIGION, GOVERNMENT LANGUAGE
& CURRENCY

• Most Algerians follow the religion of Islam and are Sunni Muslims. Islam is the
official religion. It is illegal to teach people about other religions.
• Algeria is a democratic republic country, meaning they elect, or chose by voting,
their president like America does. Often, conflicts arise when Muslims are unhappy
with the government.
• The major languages in Algeria are Arabic and Berber. French is widely spoken too.
People here speak Arabic, Berber or French.
• Algerian currency, or money, is the Algerian dinar.
 FLAG OF ALGERIA

The flag is green and white,

with a red star and
crescent. The star, crescent,
and green are all symbolic
of the Islamic religion.
 ECONOMY OF ALGERIA

• Algeria's economy is based primarily on oil and natural gas. The nation has the world's
fifth-largest reserves of natural gas and is the second-largest exporter. It also has the
fourteenth-largest reserves of oil.
• Major Industries: Petroleum, natural gas, light industries, mining, electrical,
petrochemical, food processing.
• Agricultural Products: Wheat, barley, oats, grapes, olives, citrus, fruits; sheep, cattle.
• Natural Resources: Petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, uranium, lead, zinc.
 ECONOMY OF ALGERIA

Solar energy:
An important future resource is solar energy generated in the desert regions. Algeria is
involved in the international DESERTEC program, which aims to make solar energy from
North Africa available to European electricity grids.
The DESERTEC Industrial Initiative, which aims to use Sahara solar and wind power to supply
15 per cent of Europe's electricity needs by 2050. Solar Energy On account of its
geographical location, Algeria holds one of the highest solar potentials in the world.
Purpose: "To provide climate protection, energy security and development by generating
sustainable power from the sites where renewable sources of energy are at their most
abundant."
ECONOMY OF ALGERIA

• Major Exports: Petroleum, natural gas, and petroleum products 97%

• Major Imports: Capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods Currency:
Algerian dinar (DZD)
• Algeria's industrial sector has been strong since oil was discovered in
1956. Algeria's extensive supplies now rank worldwide as fifth in gas
reserves and 14th in oil.
• Petroleum, petrochemicals, and natural gas are Algeria's largest exports.
BIODIVERSITY AND NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

• Each climate zone has its own plant and animal life. Many species survive in refuges in the
nearby mountainous regions, where oaks, pines, and the Atlas cedar abound. Wild boar
and the occasional bear survive here, as do the often more visible groups of monkeys.
• But even the desert is far from lifeless, as it contains many plants and animals that have
adapted to the harsh environment, making efficient use of the scarce water resources.
• Among these species are lizards and snakes and some insects, but also a few mammals,
such as antelopes, jackals, desert rats, and foxes.
• The Mediterranean Sea has always held abundant fish, which provided a living for many
coastal communities, but some species are becoming rare on account of overexploitation
and pollution.
National Flower, Bird
& Animal
• Fennec Fox is the national animal
of Algeria. The fennec is the
world’s smallest fox but has large
ears measuring up to 6 inches.
• The National flower of Algeria is
Iris Tectorum.
• The most common bird the
Chicken is considered as the
national bird of Algeria.
UNESCO World
Heritage Sites

• Algeria is home to seven UNESCO World

Heritage Sites.
• The most famous of which is Timgad, a Roman
city.
• Timgad lies on the northern slopes of the Aurès
mountains and was created as a military colony
by the Emperor Trajan in AD 100. It is an
excellent example of Roman town planning.
Situated 900 m above sea-level, Djémila, or Cuicul, with its forum,
temples, basilicas, triumphal arches and houses, is an interesting
example of Roman town planning adapted to a mountain location.
 Tassili n'Ajjer

• The only natural

World Heritage Sites
is the Tassili n'Ajjer, a
mountain range.
• National park in a
desert plateau
known for its
prehistoric cave
paintings & unique
rock formations.
Mansourah Mosque is a ruined
historic mosque in the city of
Mansourah, Algeria, dates to the
Marinid dynasty. It consists of a part of
the Mansourah Castle. The design of
the mosque that it was built by the
Sultan Abu Yakub in 1303, and the
decoration of the main gate was done
by Abu al-Hassan in 1336.
FOOD

The national food of Algeria is couscous, tiny

pasta balls made from semolina wheat flour.
Couscous can be served with onions,
peppers, raisins and spicy seasonings or it
can be served as a sweet dish with honey
and cinnamon. Strong black coffee and
sweetened mint tea are popular, as well as
apricot or other sweetened fruit juices.
Laban also is drunk, a mixture of yogurt and
water with mint leaves for flavoring. Algeria
grows grapes and produces its own wine,
but alcohol is not widely consumed, as it is
forbidden by the Islamic religion.
FESTIVALS Religious holidays are often celebrated
with special foods.
For the birthday of Muhammad, a holiday
called Mulud, dried fruits are a common
treat.
During the month of Ramadan, Muslims
refrain from food and drink during the
daylight hours. Each evening, the fast is
broken with a family meal. Eid al-Fitr, the
final breaking of the Ramadan fast,
involves consuming large quantities of
foods, sweets, and pastries.
 • Electricity and clean water is
not always available.
CONCLUSI • The country has rich oil and
natural gas reserves, but it
ON remains poor today. Muslims
are unhappy with the
government and often have
conflicts.
Silvia Zaman Porshi