Flag of Algeria

Flag of Algeria

الجمهورية الجزائرية الديمقراطية الشعبية

  • République algérienne démocratique et populaire (French)
  • People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria (English)

Facts

  • Population » 41 million
    • Younger than 15 yo: 29.5%
    • 65+ yo: 6.1%
  • Languages » Arabic, French, Berber
  • Religion » Islam
  • Life expectancy » 76 years (men), 78 years (women)
  • Official Currency » Algerian Dinar (DZD)
    • 1 Algerian dinar = 100 centimes
      • Algerian Dinars are not used as currency outside Algeria. Consider exchange before border crossing.

Geography

  • Area » 2.4 million sq km (919,595 sq miles)
  • Bordered to the northeast by Tunisia, to the east by Libya, to the southeast by Niger, to the southwest by Mali, Mauritania, and the Western Saharan territory, to the west by Morocco, and to the north by the Mediterranean Sea.
  • Behind the Mediterranean coastline lie mountains and fertile plains, with the vast Sahara desert to the south
  • The northern parallel mountain ranges of the Saharan Tell or Maritime Atlas, comprising coastal massifs, inland ranges and the Saharan Atlas divide Algeria into three longitudinal zones running generally East to West: the Mediterranean zone; the high plateaus; and the Sahara which covers some 85% of the entire area.
    • About half of Algeria is 914 m (3,000 ft) or more above sea level and about 70% of the area is from 762 m (2,500ft) to 1675m (5,500 ft) in elevation.
    • The lowest point is Chott Melrhir at -40 m
    • The highest point is Tahat at 3,003 m.
    • Only the main rivers of the Tell have water all year round, and even then the summer flow is small. None of the rivers are navigable. The mountainous areas of the High Plateaus are poorly watered. Most of the rivers and streams flow irregularly since they depend an erratic rainfall for water. In the High Plateaus lie many salt marshes and dry or shallow lakes. Further south, the land becomes increasingly arid, merging into the dry Sahara desert.

Maps

Climate

  • Arid to semiarid; mild, wet winters with hot, dry summers along coast
  • Drier with cold winters and hot summers on high plateau
  • Sirocco is a hot, dust/sand-laden wind especially common in summer
  • Aoulef El Arab is one of the ten driest places on Earth with an average annual precipitation of 12.19 mm (0.48 in)

Health

Visa

  • Canadians must be in possession of a visa to visit Algeria.
  • Visa must be obrained prior to arrival at the border.
  • Sahara Overland states it is not always easy to obtain a visa. Might depend on nationality.

Tourism

UNESCO World Heritage List

Travel Overland

  • Roads In Algeria are generally very good.
  • Food is very good and not expensive.
  • Fuel is very cheap, approx 0.25 euro / litter. However, fuel filter is recommended – dirty or low quality is rarely offered, but there reports of it happening (2023)
  • The road network is well developed in the north. The most important highway is the 1200 km long N1 (Route est-ouest) from Annaba to Oran. Most all larger cities in the north are connected to via this highway.
  • Expect check points.
    • Authorities will want to know your travel plans when travelling outside major cities and may assign police or gendarmes to protect you or stop you from travelling to those areas they deem too dangerous for tourists.
  • Travelling in the southern part of Algeria may be off limit, require permits, or an officially approved escort.
  • Algerian  is known for its ancient ruins—principally those from the Phoenician, Roman, and Byzantine eras. Some of the most famous include Timgad near Batna (Wikipedia), Hippo Regius at Annaba (Wikipedia), Djemila at Sétif, Calama at Guelma, and ruins from all three empires at Tipasa.
  • M’zab Valley, Ghardaïa Province, Algeria (UNESCO / Wikivoyage)
  • UNESCO World Heritage List

Land Border Crossings

  • Since 1994 all land borders between Morocco and Algeria have been closed.
  • Algeria – Tunisia
    • El Kala – Tabarka (open to foreigners, as at Jan 2023)
      • Border crossing is about a 4-hour drive to Tunis.
  • Notes

Ferries to/from Algeria

Some or all may not be operational or limited.

Notes

  • Algeria declared independence from France in July 1962 following an eight-year war.
  • The People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria was formally proclaimed on September 25, 1962.
  • The government espouses Islam and no laws may be passed that do not adhere to its tenets.

Safety and Security

  • Risk level high in some areas of Algeria, particularly closer to border regions with Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, and Tunisia due to a heightened threat from terrorism and kidnapping.
  • Terrorist groups and extremist militants are known to be active along the borders with:
    • Mali
    • Niger
    • Libya
    • Tunisia
    • Mauritania (as at April 2023)
  • Protests occur with relative frequency.

Government Travel Advice for Algeria

Embassies in Algeria

Posts

Media

Resources

This page was updated September 26, 2023