Those who love to travel around the world might consider one of these following facts about Algeria really interesting to read. Algeria is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa on the Mediterranean coast. Its capital and most populous city is Algiers. With a total area of 2,381,741 square kilometres (919,595 sq mi), Algeria is the tenth-largest country in the world, and the largest in Africa and in the Mediterranean. Furthermore, to get to know more about this country, here are some other facts about Algeria you might be interested in.
Facts about Algeria 1: Borders
The country is bordered in the northeast by Tunisia, in the east by Libya, in the west by Morocco, in the southwest by Western Sahara, Mauritania, and Mali, in the southeast by Niger, and in the north by the Mediterranean Sea.
Facts about Algeria 2: Home of Ancient Prehistoric Cultures
The territory of today’s Algeria was the home of many ancient prehistoric cultures, including Aterian and Capsian cultures. Its area has known many empires and dynasties, including ancient Berber Numidians, Phoenecians, Lybio-Punic Carthaginians, Romans, Vandals, Byzantines, Arab Umayyads, Arab Abbasids, Arab Eatimids, Berber Almoravids, Berber Almohads, Turkish, Ottomans and the French colonial empire.
Facts about Algeria 3: Hydrocarbons
Algeria’s economy is largely based on hydrocarbons, due to which manufacturing has suffered from Dutch disease. The country supplies large amounts of natural gas to Europe and energy exports are the backbone of the economy. According to OPEC, Algeria has 17th largest reserves of oil in the world, and second largest in Africa, while it has 9th largest reserves of natural gas.
Facts about Algeria 4: Member of International Organizations
Algeria is a member of the African Union, the Arab League, OPEC and the United Nations, and is a founding member of the Arab Maghreb Union.
Facts about Algeria 5: Ancient History
At Ain Hanech region (Saida Province), early remnants (200,000 BC) of hominid occupation in North Africa were found. Neanderthal tool makers produced hand axes in the Levalloisian and Mousterian styles (43,000 BC) similar to those in the Levant.
Facts about Algeria 6: Flake Tool Technique
Algeria was the site of the highest state of development of Middle Paleolithic Flake tool techniques. Tools of this era, starting about 30,000 BC, are called Aterian, after the archeological site of Bir el Ater, south of Tebessa.
Facts about Algeria 7: President
Algeria’s first president was the FLN leader Ahmed Ben Bella. Morocco’s claim to portions of western Algeria led to the Sand war in 1963. Ben Bella was overthrown in 1965 by Houari Boumediene, his former ally and defense minister. Under Ben Bella, the government had become increasingly socialist and authoritarian; Boumédienne continued this trend.
Facts about Algeria 8: Elections
In December 1991 the Islamic Salvation Fron dominated the first of two rounds of legislative elections. Fearing the election of an Islamist government, the authorities intervened on 11 January 1992, cancelling the elections.
Facts about Algeria 9: 1999 election
Algeria held election in 1999, considered biased by international observers and most opposition groups which were won by President Abdelaziz Bouteflika. He worked to restore political stability to the country and announced a ‘Civil Concord’ initiative, approved in a referendum, under which many political prisoners were pardoned, and several thousand members of armed groups were granted exemption from prosecution under a limited amnesty, in force until 13 January 2000.
Facts about Algeria 10: Climate
In this region, midday desert temperatures can be hot year round. After sunset, however, the clear, dry air permits rapid loss of heat, and the nights are cool to chilly. Enormous daily ranges in temperature are recorded.
Hope you would find those Algeria facts really interesting, useful and helpful for your additional reading.
