Algeria

Find out some interesting information about Africa's largest country, Algeria, and print out our useful flag printables...

Strange sandstone cliffs in the Sahara Desert, Algeria

Learn About Algeria

Geography of Algeria

• The People's Democratic Republic of Algeria is Africa's largest country, stretching from the Sahara desert to the Mediterranean Sea.
• The majority of Algerians are Sunni Muslims with Arab-Berber roots. Tuaregs are nomadic Berber people from the desert, noted for their indigo veils called 'alasho'.
• The world's largest hot desert, the Sahara, covers 80% of the country. In the Great Erg you can climb sand dunes which are 150 feet high!
• Most of the desert is covered with rocky plateaus called 'hamada', which have no sand.
• In the M'Zab Valley, fortified cities called 'ksour' were built in the 11th century. They enabled the Ibadi to survive life in the inhospitable desert.
• Algeria has a wealth of natural resources. Oil and natural gas exports earn over $50 billion a year.
• Tourism has not become a major industry, compared to neighbours Morocco and Tunisia. Despite many attractions, travel is difficult in this vast country.
• Algiers is the capital city, with a population of 3.5m.
• Also in Algeria is the notorious Barbary Coast, a base for pirates who launched raids as far away as the coast of England for slaves and booty.

Algeria's History

• Algeria was part of the Roman empire. The impressive remains at Timgad, a colony for retired soldiers, includes Trajan's Arch and 12 bathhouses.
• Algiers, an ancient Phoenician city named after islands off the coast, was taken by the Ottomans prior to being capital of French Algeria from 1830. Visitors can marvel at the white stone buildings, the ancient casbah, and the Great Mosque dating to the 14th century.
• Algeria won independence from France in 1962.

Algeria's Food

• Couscous is the national dish served with grilled meat, vegetables and chickpeas. Sweet cakes flavoured with honey and almonds are very popular.

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The Algerian Flag

The Algerian flag is made of two equal stripes, one green and one white. In the middle is a star and crescent, the sign of Islam. The green colour represents nature, the white represents peace and the red represents the blood of those killed fighting during the Algerian war. The flag was adopted when the war ended, in July 1962.

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Our Algeria Resources