GEOGRAPHY
Algeria,
the second-largest state in Africa, has a Mediterranean coastline
of about 998 kilometers (620 mi.). The Tellian and Saharan Atlas
Mountain ranges cross the country from east to west, dividing
it into three zones. Between the northern zone, Tellian Atlas,
and the Mediterranean is a narrow, fertile coastal plain--the
Tell (Arabic for hill)--with a moderate climate year round and
rainfall adequate for agriculture. A high plateau region, averaging
914 meters (3,000 ft.) above sea level, with limited rainfall
and great rocky plains and desert, lies between the two mountain
ranges. It is generally barren except for scattered clumps of
trees and intermittent bush and pasture land. The third and largest
zone, south of the Saharan Atlas range of mountains, is mostly
desert. About 80% of the country is desert, steppes, wasteland,
and mountains.
Algeria's
weather is irregular from year to year. In the north, the summers
are usually hot with little rainfall. Winter rains begin in the
north in October. Frost and snow are rare, except on the highest
slopes of the Tellian Atlas Mountains. Dust and sandstorms occur
most frequently between February and May.
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;
the Mediterranean Sea, in particular, is becoming polluted from
oil wastes, soil erosion, and fertilizer runoff; there are inadequate
supplies of potable water.
Official
Name: People's Democratic Republic of Algeria
Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean
Sea, between Morocco and Tunisia.
Area:Total--2,381,740 sq. km. Land--2,381,740 sq. km.;
water--0 sq. km. More than 3 times the size of Texas.
Cities: Capital--Algiers.
Terrain: Mostly high plateau and desert; some mountains;
narrow, discontinuous coastal plain. Mountainous areas subject
to severe earthquakes; mud slides.
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.
Land use: Arable land--3%; permanent crops--0%, permanent
pastures--13%; forests and woodland--2%.
