ALGERIA
- Population: 32.9 million (UN, 2005)
- Capital: Algiers
- Area: 2.4 million sq km (919,595 sq miles)
- Major languages: Arabic, French, Berber
- Major religion: Islam
- Life expectancy: 70 years (men), 72 years (women) (UN)
- Monetary unit: 1 dinar = 100 centimes
People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria is one country that holds true and optimistic promises for travellers. In the middle of the Sahara Desert, Algerians celebrate to the sounds of percussions. With dwindling oil reserves and natural resources are feared to all disappear one day, Algeria makes way for a facelift of its tourism infrastructures with particular emphasis to eco-tourism, making it one of the perfect places for the new frontier and backpack traveller. Why not? Algeria renders highly fertile ground for such a project. Despite shocking terrorist threats that plague the country, the nation bets heavily on tourism as its alternative economy generator.
They simply wish to be disassociated with the abduction of 2 Austrian tourists a few years ago, and that the fear caused by it dissipates. Archaeology, history, beauty and nature are components of what is to be an inspiring journey of fresh new discoveries. Algeria is a land of endless greenery and beauty, a land of diversities and possibilities. And although it’s recently topped the headlines for a violent brawl that led to a diplomatic row with Egypt over the FIFA qualifying match, of all things, beating Egypt surely, the unseen is a nation of people passionate, not over football, but for patriotism of what their countrymen represented.
GEOGRAPHY
Algeria (28 00 N, 3 00 E) is a 2,381,741 km2 territory of land sandwiched in Northern Africa by Morocco and Tunisia and others in a stance quite close to European countries as Spain and Italy. It is the 2nd largest country in Africa, and the 11th in the world. The terrain is mostly high plateau and steppes with a shy veil of green grass. There is a nice variety of desert land, plains and mountains, the highest being the Tahat 3,003 metres above sea level; the lowest is Chott Melrhir with a depression of -40 m. A sizeable one-sixths of the land is covered in forest and woodlands.
CLIMATE
This landscape diversity is but a bearing of the prism of climate that is arid to semi-arid . Mid-day temperatures tend to be uber hot no matter the season, like winter that begins from October, which are generally wet and cold. The night is chilly due to the sudden loss of heat. The hottest recording of temperature recorded varies from 57.2 °C to an astounding 60.5°C, which are temperatures more than halfway through to boiling temperatures.
Then again, it also varies with region. Precipitation is heaviest in north eastern Algeria, while winters are drier and cooler in the plateaus. Along the coast, summers are hot and dry, while winters are mild but wet. In the mountainous regions, hot and dusty because of ergs stuffed between mountains. Frost and snow are atypical, but not on the caps Tellian Atlas Mountains.
PEOPLE
Algerians number at 35.7 million as of January 2010 of 99% Berber origin. Looking farther back, are a civilization of 5th century BC. Algeria is a pot of truly “melted” Phoenician, Roman, Vandal, Byzantine, Arab, Turkish, and, finally, French influences. Less than 1% are of European origin. With reference to utility and need, ARABIC is the official language and has been the national language under the constitution since 2002 spoken by almost 85% of the population, while Berber languages or dialects are still widely spoken by Berber groups, KABYLE being the most spoken. FRENCH is somehow the second official or de facto co-official language, though unofficially, used in government, media, and education. ENGLISH is spoken by a rather insignificant number as it is taught in middle school.
RELIGION
Islam is the state religion arising from its Arab influences, the greatest of all impacts in the 8th and 11th centuries AD that brought Islam and Arabic. While Christianity arrived in Algeria much earlier than Islam, the intermittent Arab influence has sunk in deeper that government law is also based on Islam as much as it is in French Law. The Evangelical Church is reviving Christianity in Algeria converting Muslims in outlandish numbers practically emptying a few mosques. Still, it’s a waging war between 99% of Muslims, and 1% of Christians and Jews, between 32,000 mosques and 32 churches.
ATTRACTIONS
Behind the facade of religious conflict and terror, Algeria is a land of green. Diversity is the key point of understanding Algeria, and nothing says it better than the landscape. There are Overall, Algeria is fertile land for eco-reserves. There are six UNESCO World Heritage Sites to lavish in. The Al Qal’a of Beni Hammad is the first capital of the Hammadid Empire; Tipasa, like Djemila & Timgad, are Roman towns/cities with outstanding ruins; Casbah is a historical fortress, M’zab Valley is a large oasis habitat in a limestone valley with exceptional architecture. Tassili n’ Ajjer, a mountain range in the Saharan desert, is much different above all as a natural heritage site. This is biosphere reserve with rich vegetation and endangered species like the Saharan cypress and Saharan myrtle, as well as the site of well-preserved archaeological sites that contain prehistoric rupestrian paintings.
When done with standing idle awing at the ruins or chronicles of ancients past, there are other places to laze away at the sandy beaches at Tipaza and Zeralda. The resortsTurquoise Coast with rocky coves, accessibility from the city, and Sidi Fredj comes with an open –air theatre both sharing the same features for beach sports, water sports, and cruise facilities. Tamanrasset or Tam is a base for hiking and trekking the Hoggar Mountains and is also a popular winter holiday resort. The town has an incredibly wide variety of hotel and restaurant options. Off-the-beaten path, there are waterfalls, grasslands, and sand dunes for any kind of enjoyment.
FOOD
Saved the best for last, like the Sahara, Algerian cuisine is an aspect of the culture worth traversing. Algerians are a people known to bask in the past while remaining positive to the possibilities the future holds. Hey, I was just talking about food. The Middle East and Mediterranean are its influences with a little European and you can find a selection of those cuisines on the Algerian menu. It’s quite common to see dishes from a different culture Algerian-ized to meet their tastes and customs. Lamb is commonly consumed, as is seafood. Chicken is just as good especially cooked as a casserole dish or chicken tagine or chtitha djaj . Kbab is a cinnamon-and-pepper spiced meat dish with vegetables; osbane is a sheep tripe dish; shakhshukha, a lamb brain dish. Like gaurantita, generally a sandwich fast food as is shawarma, a lot of these Algerian dishes are incomplete without French bread, which for these, are used to sop up the juices of the dish.
So you ask…what kind of desserts characterizes Algeria? Desserts you say? These are a part of the after-meal event. We are dealing with the world’s 2nd largest consumers of honey. Of course, it’s got to be sweet, nutty and good. Zlabia is technically a fritter doused in syrup or power combo of powdered sugar and cinnamon. Mchewek is a small, sweet and nutty baked bun and makroud el louz, a cookie made from ground almond, with syrup and a generous coating of sugar. Qtayef is as delicious and syrupy as it is architectural. Never leave without trying these and more, at least not without tasting the fresh tropical and Mediterranean fruits. Finally, coffee is strong and Turkish.
The eco tourism project is helping development the local economy of the region. Even so, independent travel, as with most countries on a tourism debut, is never without difficulty with special mention to “transport”. Basically, transportation is a far cry in contrast to some developed countries, which is frustrating. Health reminder: tap water is unsafe. Life reminder: Due to terrorist threats, resist some of the amazing barrenness. Travel safe, mate!
Josh Boorman
Editor-in-chief
Backpacking Addictz
Twitter: @backpackaddictz
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