GeoFroggy

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Background

After a century of rule by France, Algeria became independent in 1962. The surprising first round success of the fundamentalist FIS (Islamic Salvation Front) party in December 1991 balloting caused the army to intervene, crack down on the FIS, and postpone the subsequent elections. The FIS response has resulted in a continuous low-grade civil conflict with the secular state apparatus, which nonetheless has allowed elections featuring pro-government and moderate religious-based parties. FIS's armed wing, the Islamic Salvation Army, dissolved itself in January 2000 and many armed insurgents surrendered under an amnesty program designed to promote national reconciliation. Nevertheless, some residual fighting continues. Other concerns include large-scale unemployment and the need to diversify the petroleum-based economy.

Location

Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Morocco and Tunisia

Area Comparative

Slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Texas

Maritime Claims

Exclusive fishing zone: 32-52 nm

Territorial sea: 12 nm

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

Natural Hazards

Mountainous areas subject to severe earthquakes; mud slides

Environment Current Issues

Soil erosion from overgrazing and other poor farming practices; desertification; dumping of raw sewage, petroleum refining wastes, and other industrial effluents is leading to the pollution of rivers and coastal waters; Mediterranean Sea, in particular, becoming polluted from oil wastes, soil erosion, and fertilizer runoff; inadequate supplies of potable water

Environment International Agreements

Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

Signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban

Geography Note

Second-largest country in Africa (after Sudan)

Year	2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000

Map Reference

Africa

Irrigated Land 1993

5,550 sq km

Area 2000

Total

2,381,740 sq km
Land

2,381,740 sq km
Water

0 sq km

Coastline

998 km

Geographical Coordinates

28 00 N, 3 00 E

Land use 2000

Arable Land
3%
Permanent Crops
0%
Permanent Pastures
13%
Forests And Woodland
2%
Other
82%

Terrain

Mostly high plateau and desert; some mountains; narrow
Discontinuous coastal plain

Elevation

Lowest Point: Chott Melrhir -40 m
Highest Point: Tahat 3,003 m

Land Boundaries

Total
6,343 km
Libya
982 km
Mali
1,376 km
Mauritania
463 km
Morocco
1,559 km
Niger
956 km
Tunisia
965 km
Western Sahara
42 km

Natural Resources

Petroleum
Natural gas
Iron ore
Phosphates

Uranium
Lead
Zinc

Algeria