In the Maghreb region of North Africa, Algeria, officially named the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, is a country. It has an area of 2,381,741 square km overall. Algiers is its capital and largest city. The official languages are Arabic and Berber, and Dinar is the official currency.
The country borders Morocco, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Libya, Tunisia, Western Sahara. Likewise, with Italy and Spain, Algeria shares maritime boundaries. Algeria is the largest country in Africa (2,345,411 sq km), followed by the Democratic Republic of Congo. With its pleasant year-round climate, it has a beautiful setting on the coast of the Mediterranean ocean.
Interesting Facts About Algeria
There is plenty to interest tourists here, with an ancient history and fairly recent freedom after years of war. Let’s discover more about its culture, economy, history, people, and more with these fascinating facts about Algeria:
1. Algeria is mostly desert
About 80 percent of Algeria is occupied by the Sahara Desert. Just 12 percent of the land in Algeria is actually inhabited. This is because over 90% of Algeria’s population lives along the Mediterranean coast, where the climate is more comfortable and closer to that of many countries in the Mediterranean.
The daily fluctuations in temperature can be more than 80 F (44 C) in the desert. It goes without saying, given the vast expanse of desert, that one of Algeria’s well-known realities is that temperatures can be scorching. Temperatures in the oasis town of In Salah reached 123.8 F (51 C) in August 2011. This is the country’s highest temperature ever recorded.
2. Islam is the official religion of Algeria
To a large degree, Algeria’s population is made up of Arab Berbers. It is no surprise, then, that Algeria’s dominant and official religion is Islam.
As a result, the rule of law is based on the French system of courts and Sharia law. The country’s colonial history explains the adoption of the French Court system in the courts of the country. Because of the strong Muslim power, proselytizing (advocating or promoting) any other religion to the people is illegal.
3. More than 25 percent of Algerians face poverty
One of the saddest truths about Algeria is that a lot of Algerians live in poverty. One in four Algerians, incredibly, lives on less than £ 1 a day. The fact that Algeria has the highest cost of living in North Africa worsens this. Poverty and unemployment have deteriorated in Algeria following years and years of internal strife. Natural resource deterioration is also making a contribution to this national problem.
4. Algeria is the winner of 5 gold medals at the Olympics
There are several interesting facts related to sport in Algeria. Since 1964, Algeria has competed in every Olympic Games in the summer. The country has won 15 medals, including five gold medals, during this period, that has seen 15 Olympic Games take place. They also won the men’s and women’s 1500 meters twice, and the fifth gold medal was for boxing. At the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, two of those gold medals were won: Noureddine Morceli won the 1500 meters, and Hocine Soltani won in the boxing’s lightweight division.
5. Fennec fox is the national animal of Algeria
The Fennec fox roams the desert regions of Algeria and is distinguished by its creamy hair, over-sized ears, slanted eyes and pointy nose. A fascinating fact about this fox is that it can go for long periods without water. It’s the smallest canid species in the world, and it’s actually pretty cute to look at. It’s a nocturnal animal, though, so your chances of spotting one is quite slim. The national football team of Algeria (soccer): Les Fennecs is named after this animal.
6. It’s hard-to-find alcohol in Algeria
In Algeria, you can rarely find alcohol on sale. This is mainly due to Islam’s supremacy in the region. Very few restaurants sell alcohol whatsoever. Furthermore, even if a restaurant sells alcoholic beverages, they typically do not mention them on the menu.
The prohibition movement began in Algeria in 2005 and has forced underground sales and consumption of alcohol. People who drink in secret are reported to have increased public health risks, however.
7. The flag of Algeria consists of exact symbolism
On 3 July 1962, the new Algerian flag was adopted. The colors and symbols on the flag of Algeria are very detailed and symbolically intense. Red symbolizes the blood of the Algerians who died fighting for the liberation of the nation from France. Green represents nature, while peace is characterized by white on the flag. The Islamic faith is represented by the red star and crescent. Of all the facts concerning the flag in Algeria, the most shocking is that the colors are precise: the exact wavelength that must be absorbed by each color is officially defined. This is especially unusual for the flag of an African nation.
8. Algeria has several impressive archeological sites
There are several archeology-related facts about Algeria. Dating back to the Neolithic period, Algeria has many ancient archeological sites. The National Park of Tassili, known as the Plateau of the Rivers, in Tassili n’Ajjer, is home to many of these sites, some of which contain examples of prehistoric rock art.
This area is, in reality, of such significance that it has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. There are more than 15,000 sketches and engravings, some of which date back as 6000 BC. Djémila, Timgad, Tipasa, and the M’Zab Valley are other interesting archeological sites.
9. In 1962, Algeria gained independence from France
Algeria has a fascinating political past that has created many exciting facts about Algeria. The Romans, the Germanic Vandal tribes, the Byzantines, the Spanish, the Turkish, and then the French have dominated it over the years. In fact, from 1830 until it regained independence in 1962, Algeria was governed by France.
The fight for Algeria’s independence from France, which lasted from 1954 to 1962, resulted in the deaths of over a million Algerians. Several atrocities, including marquis fighting, guerrilla warfare, torture, assassination, and counter-terrorism operations, were involved in the conflict between these two countries.
10. It is called the country of dates
In Algeria, the date fruit is the snack of choice. Probably, dates from Algeria are some of the best dates on earth, or so they claim. A common characteristic of desert oasis towns is large palm groves. These fruits are not only sweet and delicious, but they are also very nutritious. They are filled with many nutrients in a variety of dishes, including vitamins and dietary fiber, making them a healthy ingredient. Traditionally, tourists are welcomed by offering them dates and milk.
11. Algeria mainly exports fossil fuels
A significant percentage of the country’s earnings stem from its hydrocarbon exports. Algeria is the sixth-largest natural gas exporter and has the world’s 10 largest reserves of natural gas.
The country is rated as an upper-middle-income nation by Algeria’s substantial revenue from its export of fossil fuels. Successive governments have attempted to grow other industries, but this process tends to be impeded by high costs and bureaucracy.
