Western SaharaAlgeria, Arab. Al Djazair, officially Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, NW Africa, bordered by Mauritania, Morocco, and Western Sahara (W), the Mediterranean Sea (N), Tunisia and Libya (E), and Niger and Mali (S). The principal cities are Algiers (the capital) and Oran. The Atlas Mountains divide northern Algeria into a coastal lowland strip (the Tell) and a semiarid plateau. In the south is the much larger, but arid and sparsely populated, Saharan region; Algeria’s highest point, Mt. Tahat (9,541 ft/2,908 m), in the Ahaggar Mts., is located here...More Information on Algeria. Full country name: West Sahara Also Read: A Short Background of Western Sahara History of Western SaharaLittle is known about Western Sahara before the 4th century B.C., when trade with Europe began. During the Middle Ages it was occupied first by Berbers and then by the Arabic-speaking Muslim Bedouins. In the 19th century the Spanish laid claim to the southern coastal region, called Rio de Oro, and later occupied the northern interior region, Saguia el Hamra, in 1934. The Spanish formally united the two regions, and it became known as Spanish Sahara in 1958. Both Morocco and Mauritania sought to control the territory, and when the Spanish departed in 1976 they divided the territory between them....More on Western Sahara's History. Overview of Algeria's EconomyAnnual Growth: 2.5% Also Read: A short note on Economy of Western Of Sahara Political System of Algeria- Government
of Western Sahara Climate, Vegetation and FaunaDeforestation has been extensive in northern Algeria, with forests receding to the upper Tell Atlas and the Saharan Atlas.. Trees like pines, Atlas cedar, oaks, form the main vegetation. The High Plateau is mainly barren with scattered turfs of esparto grass and brushwood here and there. Even the wild life is limited due to limited vegetation. Scavengers, such as jackals, hyenas, and vultures, are found in many regions. Antelopes, hare, gazelles, and reptiles are also present in smaller numbers. In the north the wildlife is typical of Mediterranean regions, including red deer and wild boar. The desert wildlife, while limited, is richer in variety, including leopards and panthers, gazelles, hyenas, jackals and antelope, as well as desert reptiles such as snakes, vipers and monitor lizards. Envoirnment: Situated on the north coast of Africa, Algeria is the second largest country of the continent...more. Languages: Except for Europeans, ethnic communities in Algeria were distinguished primarily by language...more. Education: The French colonial education imposed on Algeria was designed primarily to meet the needs of the European population and to perpetuate...more. Culture: French tradition formerly dominated the cultural life of Algeria...more. Family Life: The people of Algeria include both Arabs and Berbers (also known as the Amazigh), although intermarriage...more. People of Western Sahara: A mixture of indigenous Berbers and Arabic tribes the Saharawi peoples’ direct ancestors can...more. Facts for the TravelerVisas:
Single entry or business visas to Algeria for one month take 2-3 days to obtain from Algerian Embassies throughout the world. Three passport photos are required and a specified fee; the visa might be renewed in Algeria. A 3-month multiple entry visa could also be obtained and application must be accompanied by an invitation or reservation from a hotel.
Visas are mandatory for all European nationals. Australian and New Zealand citizens can obtain visas from the Algerian Consulate in the UK while US and Canadian citizens must obtain visas from Algerian Embassies in their respective countries.
Health & Safety: Travellers are warned repeatedly that Algeria continues to be in the grip of a virtual civil war, and instances of foreigners being targeted by Islamic hardliners for the most trivial reason, and being executed are numerous. Women travellers face a special form of gender-based persecution from Conservatives; therefore, extreme modesty in dress and public behaviour is advised. Customs & Duties: The custom limits per person are: up to 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 400 grams of tobacco, one bottle of spirits or 2 bottles of wine. Currency declarations forms are issued on arrival and all valuable personal items such as electrical goods, jewellery, cameras, video cameras etc. should be declared, as well as all forms of cash and traveller’s cheques brought with you into the country. They must be kept in good order showing the exchange transactions you make during your stay. If, when you leave the country, your form is irregular you may be fined heavily or have your valuables confiscated. Also Read: Money & Costs | Warning about Algeria | Transportation in Algeria | Public holidays in Algeria When to GoWinter is probably the best time to visit Algeria, since it tends to be mild and wet in the northern Tell region, and daytime temperatures in the Sahara region seldom fall below 25 degrees Celsius. However, nights in the Sahara can be very cold, so adequate warm clothing is essential. Also Read: Getting Around in Algeria | Getting There & Away What to See in AlgeriaOther Tourist Attractions in Algeria more...What to do in AlgeriaAlgeria has a wide range of features that would be of interest to tourists. These include cultural centers, museums, and memorials filled with historical backgrounds and items of interest. A small seaside village, Bou Ismail, is a favorite of visitors who enjoy a great fishing experience. And, for the water sports lovers, Alger-Plage beach (Algiers- Beach) gives you an opportunity for sailing and boating. A visit to Tipaza and Berard villages provides a wealth of insights into the fascinating Algerian history, from the Phoenicians to Roman times. In the northern part of Algiers, (Kasbah), Stand Ketchaoua (a restored ottoman mosque) and Bitchin mosque with a museum of traditional arts, all offer interesting sights to explore and marvel at.Algiers, the capital city of Algeria, has never been knows as an exciting place to visit. But, the name alone conjures up interesting thoughts. The Medina is of course one place to visit with the markets and buildings of French origin and some magnificent Turkish palaces. Check the area near the Ketchaoua Mosque on Rue Hadj Omar. The Museum of Popular Arts and Traditions is also worth a visit. For a good view of the city head out of the city center to Martyrs’ Monument. The earliest inhabitants of the area were Khoisan hunter-gatherers. They were largely replaced by Bantu tribes during a series of migrations. The southern part of the country was named Matabeleland after the Ndebele tribe who occupied the area in the early 1800’s under a loose confederation of Ndebele-speaking tribes headed by the Khumalo tribe under [...]
Countries in Africa
Algeria
Angola
Benin
Botswana
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cameroon
Cape Verde
Central African Republic
Chad
Cote d’Ivoire
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Djibouti
Egypt
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Gabon
The Gambia
Ghana
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Kenya
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Madagascar
Malawi
Mali
Mauritania
Mauritius
Morocco
Mozambique
Namibia
Niger
Nigeria
Republic of the Congo
Rwanda
Senegal
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Somalia
South Africa
Sudan
Swaziland
Tanzania
Togo
Tunisia
Uganda
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Religion in Africa
Africans profess a wide variety of religious beliefs, with Christianity and Islam being the most widespread. Approximately 40% of all Africans are Christians and another 40% Muslims. Roughly 20% of Africans primarily follow indigenous African religions. A small number of Africans also have beliefs from the Judaic tradition, such as the Beta Israel [...]
Culture of Africa
Africa has a number of overlapping cultures. The most conventional distinction is that between sub-Saharan Africa and the northern countries from Egypt to Morocco, who largely associate themselves with Arabic culture. In this comparison, the nations to the south of the Sahara are considered to consist of many cultural areas, in particular [...]
Demographics of Africa
Africans may be grouped according to whether they live north or south of the Sahara Desert; these groups are called North Africans and Sub-Saharan Africans, respectively. Afro-Asiatic speaking peoples predominate in North Africa, while Sub-Saharan Africa is dominated by a number of disparate populations grouped according to their diverse languages–Niger-Congo predominantly in West [...]
Economy of Africa
Africa is the world’s poorest inhabited continent: the United Nations’ Human Development Report 2003 (of 175 countries) found that positions 151 (Gambia) to 175 (Sierra Leone) were taken up entirely by African nations.
It has had (and in some ways is still having) a shaky and uncertain transition from colonialism, with increases in corruption [...]
Politics in Africa
Colonial Africa
Colonialism had a destabilizing effect on what had been a number of ethnic groups that is still being felt in African politics. Prior to European influence, national borders were not much of a concern, with Africans generally following the practice of other areas of the world, such as the Arabian peninsula, where [...]
History of Africa
Africa is home to the oldest inhabited territory on earth, with the human race originating from this continent. During the mid 20th century, anthropologists discovered many fossils and evidence of human occupation perhaps as early as 7 million years ago. The famous Leakey family, with ties to both Britain and Africa, discovered fossil [...]
Geography of Africa
Africa is the largest of the three great southward projections from the main mass of the Earth’s surface. It includes within its remarkably regular outline an area, of c. 30,360,288 km² (11,722,173 mi²), including the islands.
Separated from Europe by the Mediterranean Sea, it is joined to Asia at its northeast extremity by the [...]
Etymology of Africa
The name Africa came into Western use through the Romans, who used the name Africa terra - “land of the Afri” (plural, or “Afer” singular) - for the northern part of the continent, as the province of Africa with its capital Carthage, corresponding to modern-day Tunisia.
The Afri were a tribe - possibly Berber [...]
Travel Mantra: Africa Destination Guide
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