Algeria (full name - Algerian People's Democratic Republic) is a state, one of the main associations with which is the Sahara Desert

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Algeria (full name - Algerian People's Democratic Republic) is a state, one of the main associations with which is the Sahara Desert - a huge formation that occupies most of the country's territory.

In addition, in Algeria, tourists will find it interesting to explore the many attractions, many of which date back to the period ancient Rome, Carthage and Byzantium.

Location, composition and cities

Algeria is located in the northern part of the African continent. The country has access to the Mediterranean coast.

Administratively, the country consists of 48 provinces (wilayas), 553 districts and 1,541 communes.

Largest cities: Algiers, Oran, Constantine, Batna, Setif and Annaba (more than 200,000 people).

The capital of Algeria is the city of Algiers.

Borders and area

Land borders with Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, Niger, Mali, Mauritania.

Algeria covers an area of ​​2,381,740 square kilometers.

Timezone

Population

35,423,000 people.

Language

The official language is Arabic.

Religion

State religion– Islam.

Finance

The official currency is the Algerian dinar.

Medical care and insurance

Before visiting this African country, be sure to purchase international health insurance. We also note that in Algeria all medical services are paid.

Mains voltage

230 Volt. Frequency 50 Hz.

Holidays and non-working days in Algeria

December Ascension of Muhammad

December Beginning of Ramadan

December Eid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice)

December Eid al-Fitr (end of Ramadan)

December Birthday of the Prophet Muhammad (Mawlid an-Nabi)

December Ashura

December Islamic New Year

Transport

Transport used to transport passengers is represented by buses and trains. The cost of a train ticket is significantly higher than the price of a bus, but the speed of travel is also railways higher.

The main means of transportation around the country is by bus.

Roads are of high quality everywhere.

International dialing code

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Algeria is located in northern Africa. One of largest countries continent. The total area of ​​the country is 2,381,740 km2. Length coastline 998 km.

One of the largest and most developed countries in Africa, located in the north of the continent. The country's territory occupies the central part of the Atlas mountain system and the north of the Sahara Desert. The relief of northern Algeria is represented by two main ridges - the Coastal (or Tel Atlas) and the Saharan Atlas and intermontane plains. The highest point is Mount Takhat (3003 m) in the Ahaggar highlands. The territory of the Sahara is occupied by rocky deserts - hamads and sandy ones - ergs. The river network is poorly developed (the main river is Shelif), most of the rivers regularly dry up. It borders with Morocco in the west, with Tunisia and Libya in the east, with Niger, Mali, Mauritania in the south. From the north it is washed by the waters of the Mediterranean Sea. Algeria belongs to the countries of the Maghreb ("Arab West"). The total area of ​​Algeria is 2381.7 thousand square meters. km.

Nature of Algeria

The Tell Atlas mountain range running in the north along the coast is cut through by a few bays and plains. The lowlands around the cities of Algiers and Oran are densely populated. Small bays are used for fishing, export of iron ore and oil. Tell Atlas rises more than 1830 m above sea level and includes the Tlemcen, Greater and Lesser Kabylia and Mejerda massifs.

At mid-altitudes there are Mediterranean-type shrubs and cork oak forests. At higher elevations, cedar and pine forests once grew, but as a result of deforestation, fires and livestock grazing, many mountainous areas have turned into shrub-covered wasteland. The climate is Mediterranean, with hot, dry summers and warm, rainy winters. In winter, snow covers only the highest peaks. The range of average annual precipitation amounts is from 760 mm on the coast to 1270 mm on the seaward slopes of Tell Atlas and less than 640 mm on its internal slopes.

The southern part of Tell Atlas is a high plateau with an average height of 1070 m. This area is characterized by semi-arid climatic conditions with annual precipitation of 250–510 mm. In more humid areas, cereals and alpha grass (esparto) are cultivated, the fibers of which are used to make ropes, fabrics and high-quality paper. Salt lakes (called chotts) and salt marshes occur at lower elevations with a dry climate. Located even further south, the Saharan Atlas rises to a height of 150 m above the plateau level and then descends towards the Sahara by more than 300 m. The most elevated part of the Saharan Atlas is mountain systems Ksur, Amur and Ouled-Nail. The annual rainfall on the northern slopes is approx. 510 mm, in the south - 200 mm. Thanks to its abundant grass cover, the Saharan Atlas serves as a convenient grazing area for livestock.

Statistical indicators of Algeria
(as of 2012)

The rest of the country is occupied by the Sahara Desert. The average altitude in the Sahara is approx. 460 m. In the area of ​​the Ahaggar (Hoggar) massif near the southern border of Algeria there is the highest peak of the country, Mount Takhat - 2908 m. Most of the Sahara is occupied by gravelly and pebble deserts (hamads and regis), and approximately 1/4 of the part is sandy deserts (ergs) . The day is hot, sometimes the temperature reaches 35°, but the nights are cool. Precipitation is extremely rare. In oases, under conditions of constant irrigation, the date palm grows. In Algeria, only a few rivers have a constant flow; the rest are fed by precipitation. Sources of water supply are wells dug in dry river beds (wadis), in many places underground water is used, coming to the surface through artesian wells and foggara - horizontal tunnels dug at a slight slope.

Geological structure of Algeria

In the territory of Algeria, there are regions of different geological structure and metallogeny - the Sahara (part of the ancient African platform) and the Atlas (sector of the Mediterranean geosynclinal belt), separated by the South Atlas fault. In the south of the Sahara region, the Ahaggar (Hoggar) shield stands out, in the southwest - El-Eghlab (Regibat). They are composed of Archean crystalline rocks, metamorphosed volcanic-clastic and carbonate deposits of the Lower Proterozoic and Riphean-Vendian; In Ahaggar, geosynclinal-orogenic volcanic-sedimentary deposits and Taurirt granites (650-500 million years) are also widely developed. The platform cover is formed by marine terrigenous-carbonate sediments of the Riphean-Vendian (especially in the Regibat massif), lagoonal-continental and marine sediments of the Paleozoic (thickness 1.2-3.8 km), sandstones and evaporites of the Triassic, clays and sandstones of the Jurassic - Neogene.

In the cover of the Saharan plate there are syneclises (Tindouf, Western and Eastern Sahara), separated by uplifts, and the Ugarta zone, which is an aulacogen, the folding of which appeared at the end of the Carboniferous. Riphean-Vendian volcanics and granites are associated with deposits of uranium, tin, tungsten, rare metals and gold ores in Ahaggar. In the Tindouf syneclise, among the Paleozoic clay-sand deposits of the platform cover, the largest iron ore deposits are localized, and in the south of Ahaggar there are promising uranium deposits. Anticlines in the sediments of the cover on the northern plunging of Ahaggar contain unique deposits of oil (Hassi-Mesaoud) and gas (Hassi-Rmel).

In the folded Atlas region, evaporites, gypsum-salt-bearing clays and red clastic rocks of the Triassic are developed, overlain by marine terrigenous-carbonate sediments and carbonate-terrigenous flysch (Jurassic, Cretaceous, Paleogene). In the north, the Neogene is represented by marine volcanic-sedimentary, clayey-carbonate sediments, in the south - by continental sediments.

In Tel Atlas, folded rocks of the Mesozoic-Cenozoic (up to and including the Middle Miocene) form a series of tectonic nappes (nappes) moving from north to south. In the coastal zone, andesites and granitoids of the Neogene are insignificantly developed, in the massifs of Greater and Lesser Kabylia - Precambrian metamorphic rocks and Paleozoic shales, which protrude to the surface. To the south of Tel Atlas there is a platform block of the High Plateaus (Oran Meseta), where the folded Hercynian basement is covered by a thin, slightly deformed Mesozoic-Cenozoic cover. In the handfuls, terrigenous and volcanic-shale rocks of the Paleozoic are exposed, crushed and intruded by Hercynian granitoids. South of the High Plateaus there is a moderately folded zone of the Saharan Atlas, formed at the site of the Mesozoic trough. In general, the Atlas region is dominated by near-latitudinal folds and faults of eastern and northeastern (or “Atlas”) strike, as well as submeridional “Red Sea” faults superimposed in the northern part of Algeria on the Tel Atlas overhangs. Longitudinal and transverse faults determine the placement of volcanics, evaporite diapirs and the most important ore-bearing zones with deposits of ferrous and non-ferrous metals in the Atlas region. In Northern Algeria, deposits of iron, zinc, lead, copper, antimony, mercury and various types of non-metallic raw materials are associated with Mesozoic-Cenozoic rocks.

The territory of Algeria is characterized high seismicity, which is associated with movement along faults and ripples in various zones of Northern Algeria. The most seismic is Tel Atlas (6-7 points), within its boundaries there are coastal zones (Tenes-Chershel, Oran-Mostaganem and Shelif).

Minerals of Algeria

In Algeria, deposits of oil, natural gas, coal, uranium ores, iron, manganese, copper, lead, zinc, mercury, antimony, gold, tin, tungsten, as well as phosphorites, barite, etc. have been discovered and explored.

Algeria ranks third in Africa in terms of oil reserves. On the territory of Algeria, 183 oil and gas fields are known, confined to the Algerian-Libyan oil and gas basin; Most of the deposits are located in the northeast of the Sahara region. The largest oil field, Hassi Mesaoud, is localized in Cambrian-Ordovician sandstones. The fields of Zarzaitin, Hassi-Tuile, Hassi-el-Agreb, Tin-Foue, Gourd-el-Bagel, etc. have significant reserves. Algeria ranks first in Africa in terms of gas reserves. The largest gas field, Hassi-Rmel, lies in Triassic sandstones; significant gas reserves have been explored in the Gurd-Hyc, Nezla, Oued-Numer and other fields.

Coal reserves are insignificant; its deposits (Kenadza, Abadla, Mezarif) are concentrated in the Upper Carboniferous sediments in the Beshar basin. The coals are fatty, caking, medium ash (8-20%), contain 20-35% volatile impurities and 2-3.5% sulfur.

Algeria ranks 4th in Africa in terms of uranium ore reserves. Hydrothermal vein deposits of uranium ores Timgauin, Tinef and Abankor have been explored in Ahaggar (proven reserves 12 thousand tons, U3O8 content 20%); in the south of the shield, uranium occurrences are known in Paleozoic sandstones (Tahaggart).

Algeria ranks second in Africa in terms of iron ore reserves. In Northern Algeria, metasomatic iron ore deposits have been explored in Aptian reef limestones (Jebel Ouenza, Bou Khadra), the total reserves of which are over 100 million tons, the Fe content is 40-56%. In the Tindouf syneclise, the largest Devonian sedimentary deposits of oolitic iron ores in Algeria were discovered - Gara-Dzhebilet (total reserves 2 billion tons, Fe content 50-57%) and Mesheri-Abdelaziz (2 billion tons, 50-55%). The reserves of manganese ores are insignificant; they are confined to the volcanic-hydrothermal deposit of Oued Guettara (total reserves 1.5 million tons, Fe content 40-50%) in the Bechar region.

Algeria ranks second in Africa in terms of lead and zinc ore reserves. In Northern Algeria, stratiform, vein (telethermal) and lens-shaped vein (hydrothermal) deposits of polymetallic ores are developed. Stratiform deposits of lead and zinc ores are located in carbonate deposits of the Jurassic (El-Abed, Deglen), Cretaceous (Kerzet-Yousef, Meslulla, Jebel Ishmul), veins in sandy-clayey rocks of the Cretaceous (Gerruma, Sakamody) are associated with diapirs of Triassic evaporites. Volcanogenic and plutonogenic-hydrothermal copper-polymetallic deposits in Cretaceous-Neogene rocks are associated with Miocene volcanics (Bu Sufa, Oued el-Kebir) and granitoids (Bu Douka, Ashaysh, Ain Barbar, Kef um Tebul). Ore occurrences of cuprous sandstones are known in Cretaceous and Triassic deposits (Ain Sefra, in the western Saharan Atlas), Cambrian (Ben Tajik in Ugarta) and Vendian (Khanq in the south of Regibat).

Algeria ranks 1st in Africa in terms of mercury reserves (about 4% of global reserves). Deposits of mercury ores were identified in the Azzab region among the terrigenous-clastic rocks of the Cretaceous - Paleogene and in Precambrian shales (Genish deposits - total reserves in terms of metal 4.5 thousand tons, Hg content 1.16%; Mpa-Cma, respectively, 7.7 thousand t, 3.9%; Ismail - worked out). Algeria ranks second in Africa in terms of antimony ore reserves; they are concentrated in Northern Algeria at the Khammam-Nbails telethermal field. Algeria ranks first in Africa in terms of tungsten ore reserves. In Ahaggar, quartz-cassiterite-wolframite-greisen-vein bodies Nahda (Launi), Tin-Amzi, ​​El-Kapycca, Bashir, Tiftazunin and others, associated with Taurirt granites, have been explored. In Northern Algeria, the Belelieta skarn-scheelite deposit is known.

The most significant hydrothermal vein gold deposits - Tiririn, Tirek, Amesmessa, Tin-Felki, etc. - were explored in the Precambrian crystalline rocks of Ahaggar; exploration and search for gold continues.

The Bou-Douau deposit has been discovered in Northern Algeria.

Algeria ranks 5th in Africa in terms of phosphorite reserves. In Northern Algeria, deposits of granular phosphorites are confined to clay-carbonate deposits of the Upper Cretaceous - Paleogene. The largest deposits are Dzhebelyonk, El-Quif, Mzaita (see Arabian-African phosphorite province).

Algeria ranks second in Africa in terms of barite reserves. In Northern Algeria, the Mizab vein deposits (total reserves 2.15 million tons, BaSO4 content 90%), Affensou, Bou Mani, Varsenis and Sidi Kamber have been identified, in the Bechar region - the Bou Kais, Abadla and other vein fields. other minerals in Algeria, a large deposit of celestine Beni-Mansour (Northern Algeria) has been explored, the total reserves of which are 6.1 million tons; known deposits of pyrites (reserves are small), table salt and etc.

History of development mineral resources. The oldest evidence of the use of stone for making tools was found in Ternifin and dates back to the Lower Paleolithic (about 700 thousand years ago). From the Neolithic era, the extraction of clays for the manufacture of ceramic utensils began (5-4th millennium BC), from the 2nd millennium BC. - stone for the construction of large funeral structures - dolmens. Information about the developed mining and metallurgical production in the Middle Ages is given in the works of Arab scientists and travelers al-Yakubi (9th century), al-Bakri (11th century), al-Qazwini (13th century), etc. The main mining centers were concentrated in the north - iron ore mines "Nemours" and "Beni-Saf" near the city of Arzev (Western Algeria), as well as near the cities. Setif, Annaba, Bejaia; copper mines in the Jebel Ketama mountains. In the department of Constantine (near Majana, Eastern Algeria), the development of deposits of silver, lead ores, and building stone (no later than the 16th century) is also mentioned. Mercury ore was mined near the city of Arzev. In the 10th century, salt mines were located on the Jebel el-Melkh hill ("Mountain of Salt").

After the colonization of Algeria (1830), intensive searches for minerals began in the country. Industrial exploitation of iron ore deposits (Ain Mokra, Beni Saf, Jebel Ouenza, Mokti el-Hadid) has been carried out since the 50-60s. 19th century, at the same time intensive development of deposits of lead, zinc and copper ores (Muzaya, Oued Merja, Tizi Ntaga), and phosphorites (since 1893) was carried out. In 1907, the main coal deposit of Algeria, Kenadza, was discovered, the maximum production of which was carried out during the Second World War 1939-45.

Mining. General characteristics. The leading branch of the mining industry is oil and gas production (more than 90% of the value of all products of the mining industry); provides the majority of foreign exchange earnings. In 1981, oil and gas accounted for 96% of the value of the country's exports, which amounted to 62 billion Algerian dinars. In the mining industry, the public sector plays a leading role. In the oil and gas industry, a monopoly position is occupied by the state company "Société Nationale pour la Recherche, la Production, le Transport, la Transformation et la Commercialization des Hydrocarbures" ("SONATRACH"). The company has taken control of oil and gas reserves and production, all main oil and gas pipelines, gas liquefaction and oil refining plants.

The total number of personnel employed in the oil and gas industry is about 36 thousand people (1980). The Algerian government is promoting the development of the oil and gas industry by merging with foreign capital (up to 49%) while retaining 51% of the shares with SONATRACH. The company carries out production, as well as exploration for oil and gas, in the Sahara together with the French companies "Total", "Compagnie Française de Pétrole", "Compagnie de Recherches et d'Activities Pétrolières", US companies (Getty Oil Co.), Spain ("Hispanoil"), Germany ("Deminex"), Poland ("Copex") and Brazil ("Petrobras"). After the nationalization of mines and quarries (1966) in the Algerian mining industry, the state company "SONAREM" completely controls the exploration, production, consumption and export of all solid minerals (total number of employees about 14 thousand people, 1980). The company includes 30 mines and quarries and conducts exploration in Northern Algeria and the Sahara. Algeria is one of the leading producers of mercury. The extraction of iron ores and non-ferrous metals is insignificant.

Climate of Algeria

The climate of Algeria is subtropical Mediterranean in the north and tropical desert in the Sahara. Winter on the coast is warm and rainy (12°C in January), in the mountains it is cool (there is snow for 2-3 weeks), in the Sahara it depends on the time of day (at night below 0°C, during the day 20°C). Summer in Algeria is hot and dry. Annual precipitation ranges from 0-50 mm in the Sahara to 400-1200 mm in the Atlas Mountains.

Water resources of Algeria

All Algerian rivers are temporary watercourses (oueds) that fill during the rainy season. The rivers of the far north of the country flow into the Mediterranean Sea, the rest are lost in the sands of the Sahara. They are used for irrigation and water supply, for which reservoirs and hydroelectric power stations are built on them. The largest river is Sheliff (700 km). Lake basins (sebkhas) also fill up during the rainy season, and in the summer they dry out and become covered with a salt crust up to 60 cm thick. In the Sahara, in areas with large reserves of groundwater, the largest oases are located.

Flora and fauna of Algeria

Algeria has a poor flora. In some places in the mountains there are cork oak forests, semi-desert and desert vegetation. In the north of the country, oak, olive, pine and thuja grow. The Sahara Desert contains virtually no vegetation, and there are very few oases. The most typical animal species for the country are jackals, hyenas, antelopes, gazelles, and hares are also found.

Population of Algeria

At the time of the French conquest, the population of Algeria was approx. 3 million people. In 1966 it already reached 11.823 million people, and in 1997 – 29.476 million people. In 1996, the birth rate was 28.5 per 1,000 people and the death rate was 5.9 per 1,000 people. Infant mortality (children under one year old) is 48.7 per 1000 newborns. In the mid-1990s, approx. 68% of the population was under 29 years of age.

Algeria was originally inhabited by peoples speaking Berber languages. These peoples back in 2000 BC. moved here from the Middle East. Most modern population uses the colloquial version in everyday life Arabic. Arabs settled in Algeria during the Islamic conquests of the 7th and 8th centuries. and nomadic migrations of the 11th–12th centuries. The mixing of two waves of settlers with the autochthonous population led to the emergence of the so-called Arab-Berber ethnic group, in the cultural development of which the Arab element played a dominant role.

As the main ethnic subgroup of Algerian society, the Berbers play an important role in the life of the country. During the Roman and Arab conquests of North Africa, many Berbers moved from the coast to the highlands. Berbers make up approximately 1/5 of the country's population. The largest concentration of the Berber population is found in the mountainous area of ​​Djurjura, east of the capital, known as Kabylia. The local residents, the Kabyles, have settled in many cities of the country, but carefully preserve ancient traditions. Other significant groups of the Berber population are represented by the Shawiya tribal alliances, originating from the mountainous region around Batna, the Mzabita, settled in the oases of Northern Sahara, and the Tuareg nomads living in the far south in the Ahaggar region.

After the conquest of Algeria by France in the 19th century. The size of the European part of the population increased, and by 1960 approx. 1 million Europeans. Most had French roots, the ancestors of the rest moved to Algeria from Spain, Italy and Malta. After Algeria declared independence in 1962, most Europeans left the country.

Most of the Algerian population are Sunni Muslims (Malikis and Hanafis). A number of followers of the Ibadite sect live in the Mzab Valley, Ouargla and Algiers. The state religion of the country is Islam. There are approx. 150 thousand Christians, mostly Catholics, and approximately 1 thousand adherents of Judaism. The official language is Arabic, but it is still widely spoken French. Some Berber tribes speaking Tamahak and Tamazirt acquired their own written language. Several books have already been published in the Tamazirt dialect in Algeria.

About 3/4 of the population is concentrated in the foothills of the Tell Atlas, approximately 1.5 million people live in the highlands and less than one million in the Sahara Desert. The highest density is observed near the capital and in the Kabylia region.

Economic and geographical position of Algeria

This state is located in northern Africa on the Mediterranean coast.

The country's western border runs with Morocco, Western Sahara, and Mauritania.

Its southern neighbors are Mali and Niger, and to the east are Libya and Tunisia. All of Algeria's neighbors are agricultural developing countries.

Algeria has open access to the Mediterranean Sea, and through the Strait of Gibraltar to the Atlantic Ocean.

Rich natural resources it has long attracted the attention of Europeans and was occupied by France in the mid-19th century. The war against the French colonialists lasted for seven years and ended in 1962 with the declaration of independence.

The southern part of the country, occupied by the desert, does not have a transport infrastructure, so internal transportation is carried out by air. Almost all are large settlements connected to the capital, Algiers, by regular flights.

Railway lines run only in the northern part of the country between the largest cities.

Domestic transportation of goods - 73% and passengers - 85%, is carried out by road. The roads that are part of the trans-African road network pass through Algeria, and its important part is the Algeria-Lagos Trans-Saharan Highway.

International communications are carried out by air and sea transport.

The agricultural sector of the economy is developing in the north of the country; the main area of ​​commercial agriculture has become the north-west, where soft wheat and wine grapes are grown.

The northeast has mineral resources and, above all, large reserves of iron ore and phosphorites, which is why it initially received a mining specialization.

Various types Agriculture was formed in the territory of the Central North - grain farming, subtropical horticulture, early vegetable growing and transhumance. Agricultural raw materials were processed at enterprises in the capital.

Separate mining centers and mineral resource areas began to emerge as a result of the discovery of the largest hydrocarbon reserves in the Algerian Sahara.

In foreign trade turnover, Algeria's share in product exports accounts for more than $50 billion. Imports amount to just over $40 billion.

Among the main trading partners are European countries and the USA. The main export item – 97.6% – is hydrocarbons. Citrus fruits, wine, cork, building materials and other products are also exported.

Imports are dominated by machinery and equipment, consumer goods and food products.

French domination left its mark on the Algerian economy. The country was dominated mainly by the European capitalist sector. And today, French capital maintains its position in the oil and gas industry.

Note 1

In general, the economic and geographical position of the country is quite favorable - a subtropical Mediterranean climate in the north of the country, fertile soils, open access to the sea, the presence of large mineral deposits on the one hand, and on the other - the southern part of Algeria is located in difficult desert conditions, development and development which is complicated by natural conditions.

Natural conditions of Algeria

Due to its length from north to south, the country is located in different climatic zones and different natural zones.

The Sahara occupies 80% of the territory and consists of separate rocky and sandy deserts. The Atlas ranges, located parallel to each other, extend to the north of the country - Tell Atlas and Saharan Atlas. The ridges are separated by high plateaus and deep gorges.

The Atlas Mountains belong to the Alpine mountain formation, so the area is highly seismic. Of the latter, a devastating earthquake occurred in 2003.

In the southeastern part of the Algerian Sahara is the elevated Ahaggar highland with the country's highest point, Mount Takhat (2906 m). The highlands represent the metamorphic foundation of the Sahara Platform, which came to the surface. The highland is surrounded on all sides by stepped plateaus - Tassil-Adjer, Tassil-Ahaggar and the Muidir mountains. The northern part of the Algerian Sahara is located 26 m below sea level, where the salt lake Chott-Melgir was formed.

Sahara renders big influence on the nature of Northern Algeria, enhancing African specificity and creating differences from other Mediterranean non-African countries.

The size of the country led to diversity climatic conditions– in the north of the country the climate is subtropical Mediterranean, and in the south it is tropical desert.

There is no clear boundary between them, and even in one part of the country several different types of climates can be observed - in the mountains it can be mountainous and desert, in the northeast - subtropical, in the southwest desert, and in some regions even steppe.

The Mediterranean coast is characterized by warm and rainy winters, January temperatures are +12 degrees, in the mountains it is cooler and there may even be snow for 2-3 weeks.

The Sahara is characterized by daily temperature fluctuations. At night it can drop below zero, and during the day it can reach +20 degrees. In general, summers are hot and dry.

The smallest amount of precipitation falls in the Sahara - from 0-50 mm per year, the Atlas Mountains receive the maximum amount of precipitation - from 400-1200 mm.

Algerian rivers are temporary watercourses called wadis.

Definition 1

Wadis are dry river beds that fill with water during the rainy season.

They are lost in the desert sands. Rivers flowing in the far north of the country carry their waters to the Mediterranean Sea.

The lakes, which dry up in summer, are covered with a crust of salt, the thickness of which reaches 60 cm. In the regions of the Sahara, where there are underground water reserves, the largest oases appear.

The Mediterranean coast is represented by hard-leaved evergreen trees and shrubs; in the mountains there are forests of cork and holm oak, juniper, Aleppo pine, thuja, and Atlas cedar.

The desert flora is represented mainly by ephemerals and saltworts.

For a long time, people exterminated animals, so the fauna here is very poor. In the mountain forests there are hares, wild boars, and macaques. In the semi-desert and desert zones there are cheetahs, gazelles, antelopes, hyenas, jackals, predator birds, small rodents, snakes, lizards. Invertebrates are represented by locusts, scorpions, scolopendras, phalanges.

Note 2

Thus, Algeria is located in an area of ​​high altitude zones, semi-deserts, deserts, hard-leaved evergreen forests and shrubs.

Natural resources of Algeria

To the west of Egypt are the countries of the Maghreb and among them Algeria is the largest and richest country in natural resources.

It ranks first in terms of reserves of natural gas, mercury, and tungsten.

The depths contain iron ore, the reserves of which amount to 5.4 billion tons, non-ferrous metals, and phosphorites.

The country's main wealth is oil, the reserves of which amount to 1.1 billion tons.

Explored mineral resources number more than 30 types, among them such valuable ones as:

• gold,
• Uranus,
• zinc,
• tin.

Coal deposits have been discovered - Kenadza, Abadla, Mezarif, but its reserves are insignificant. Caking coals and ash contain from 8 to 20%, as well as volatile impurities and sulfur.

The country is in first place in terms of mercury reserves. African continent, 4% of the world's reserves are concentrated in its depths.

The area occupied by forest resources is about 4.7 million hectares. Large areas of forested areas were destroyed during the War of Independence. Wood is used mainly as fuel and as a building material.

Author Yosimin Mavlodod asked a question in the section Other things about cities and countries

Please describe Algeria according to the country description plan)) and received the best answer

Answer from Evgeny Kuznetsov[guru]
ALGERIA, Algerian People's Democratic Republic (Arabic: Al-Jumhuriyah al-Jaza`iriyah ad-Dimuqratiyah ash-Sha"biyah), a state in North Africa, belongs to the Maghreb countries. To the north it is washed by the Mediterranean Sea and borders Tunisia, Libya, Niger, Mali, Western Sahara, Mauritania and Morocco. Area 2381.7 thousand km2. Population 32.8 million people (2004). Capital Algeria. Big cities: Algeria, Oran, Annaba, Constantine, Setif, Blida, Tizi-Ouzou, Ash Shelif.
Political system
Republic. The head of state is the president. Legislature- unicameral National national assembly. During a state of emergency, power passes to the Supreme State Council.
Administrative division
48 wilayas (provinces).
Nature
The north of the country occupies the central part of the Atlas Mountains. Two main mountain ranges - the Coastal Atlas (Tel Atlas) and the Saharan Atlas are interspersed with intermountain plains. The Sahara Desert is located in the south of the country (Algeria accounts for most of its territory). Rocky deserts are called hamads, and sandy deserts are called ergs. In the south, in the Ahaggar highlands, there is the city of Takhat (3003 m), the highest point of the country. The climate of Northern Algeria is subtropical Mediterranean. The climate of the Algerian Sahara is tropical desert, with precipitation less than 50 mm per year. The river network is poorly developed (the largest is the Shelif River). Most watercourses do not have a constant flow. The vegetation cover and soils of Northern Algeria are typically Mediterranean. Among the forests and shrubs, there are tracts of cork oak (mainly in the Tel Atlas mountains); in the semi-desert - alpha grass. Large areas of the Sahara are devoid of vegetation. National parks: Djurjura, Akfadu, Tassilin-Ajjer, etc.
Economy
Agrarian country. They cultivate mainly grains, grapes, vegetables, and fruits. Wine is produced for export. In semi-desert areas - collection and primary processing of alpha grass, used for the production of the best grades of paper. 95% of export earnings come from oil and gas sales. GNP per capita. $1600 (1995).
The monetary unit is the Algerian dinar.
Population
The majority (approx. 80%) of the population are Arabs. OK. 20% - Berbers, descendants ancient population Algeria, consisting of several tribes, loosely connected with each other. Nomadic tribes live in the desert, ch. Tuareg arr. The official language is Arabic, and French is widely spoken. The state religion is Islam, the vast majority of the population is Sunni. More than 95% of us live in Northern Algeria. country, mainly on the narrow coastal strip and in the massifs of Kabylia. Urban population 56%. Density 13.8 people. /km2. There are large communities of Algerian Arabs in France, Belgium, and the USA.

Geographical location of Algeria.

ALGERIA, Algerian People's Democratic Republic (Arabic: Al-Jumhuriyah al-Jaza`iriyah ad-Dimuqratiyah ash-Sha"biyah), a state in North Africa, belongs to the Maghreb countries. To the north it is washed by the Mediterranean Sea and borders Tunisia, Libya, Niger, Mali, Western Sahara, Mauritania and Morocco. The area of ​​Algeria is 2381.7 thousand km2. Algeria's population is 32.8 million people (2004). Capital Algeria. Large cities: Algiers, Oran, Annaba, Constantine, Setif, Blida, Tizi Ouzou, Ash Shelif.

Economy of Algeria. Industry of Algeria.

Algeria is primarily an agricultural country. They cultivate mainly grains, grapes, vegetables, and fruits. Wine is produced for export. In the semi-desert regions of Algeria, the collection and primary processing of alpha grass is used for the production of the best grades of paper. 95% of Algeria's export earnings come from oil and gas sales. GNP per capita. $1600 (1995).

The monetary unit is the Algerian dinar.

History of Algeria.

In the 12th century BC e. Phoenician settlements arose on the territory of Algeria in the 3rd century. - the state of Numidia. The Numidian king Jugurtha began an unsuccessful war against Rome; after the defeat, Numidia became part of the Roman province of Africa. In the 7th century. Arabs invaded here and assimilated a significant part of the population. In the 1st half. 16th century Algeria came under control Ottoman Empire, but purely for geographical reasons the country was always difficult to govern and local rulers (dei) were considered only nominally vassals of the Turkish Sultan. As a result of France's capture of Algiers (1830), Algeria became its colony (officially in 1834). The French created a thriving agriculture and built Europeanized cities, but the local population did not accept their second-class status. As a result of the national liberation war of 1954-1962, led by the National Liberation Front (FLN, founded in 1954), Algeria achieved independence in 1962. The French and a significant part of the educated Arabs left the country. OK. For 20 years, the TNF tried to follow the path of building socialism. The 1989 Constitution proclaimed the transition to a multi-party system. In the 1992 elections, Islamic fundamentalists received a majority of votes, but the military government annulled the elections. Islamists continue to wage armed struggle, carry out massacres and terrorist attacks, the number of victims is up to 100 thousand people. Algeria actively invites foreign specialists who live in isolation.