Is Algeria a city or a country? Not everyone knows the answer to this question. Our article will answer it comprehensively. In addition, here you will find interesting information about the largest cities of the largest African state in terms of area.
Is Algeria still a city or a country?
This question may puzzle many. However, the answer to it is unusually simple: Algeria is a city and a state at the same time. That is, the capital of the state of Algeria is a city with the same name.
The republic is located in northern Africa and has extensive access to the Mediterranean Sea. By its area (2.38 million square kilometers) it is the largest state on the "black continent". Algeria gained independence only in 1962, and before that it was a colony of France. Today, about 26 million people live here, most of whom speak Arabic. Although French speech can still be heard here.
The capital of this state is Algeria. The city of the same name is located on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. About him, as well as other major cities of Northern Algeria will be discussed later.
Largest cities in the north of Algeria
The state of Algeria has a lot of cities. There are about two hundred of them. In the smallest Algerian city, 37 thousand people live.
It is important to note that most of the large settlements are concentrated in the northern part, since the lifeless and hot Sahara desert occupies the southern expanses.
Below is a list of the largest cities in northern Algeria, in decreasing order of population:
- Algeria.
- Oran.
- Konstantin.
- Batna.
- Setif.
- Annaba.
- Sidi Bel Abbess.
- Biskra.
- Bejaya.
- Msila.
- Blida
- Skikda.
- El Oued.
- Tlemcen.
- Relizan.
We will talk about some of them in more detail.
Algeria: photos of the city and a description of its attractions
The capital of the same state was founded back in 944. Modern Algeria is a city with almost three million people. In shape, it resembles a triangle, in the center of which is a picturesque hill with an ancient citadel. This is one of the few cities in Africa where you can ride a tram or take a ride on the real metro!
Algeria is not only a major metropolitan city, but also an invaluable treasury of historical and architectural monuments. Being here, you can not visit the old district of the city - Kasbu. It is famous for its narrow, intricate streets and the architecture of buildings unusual for a European tourist. Rumor has it that during the occupation, French soldiers were afraid to go into the borders of Kasbah, since it was easy to get lost there. Today, this unique area of Algeria is under the protection of UNESCO.
There are many other interesting sights in the city. This is a museum of modern art, and a beautiful boulevard to them. Chegevaras, and a huge number of ancient mosques. Christians will be very interested in visiting the local Cathedral of Our Lady of Africa, built in 1872.
Visiting tourists in Algeria are very fond of strolling along Didush Murad street. This urban artery is densely built up with beautiful buildings of the colonial era, on the ground floors of which there are many shops, souvenir shops and cafes.
Oran is the second most populated city in Algeria
There are almost four times less inhabitants in Oran than in Algeria. However, this does not prevent him from being second in the list of the largest cities in the country. “Two Lions” - this is how the name of this city can be translated from the ancient Berber language . According to legend, these animals lived in the place of modern Oran in antiquity. Today, lions can only be seen on the emblem of the city.
Modern Oran is a significant cultural, financial and educational center of Algeria. This city was described by Albert Camus in his gloomy novel The Plague.
There are few attractions in Oran, although here the tourist will find something to see. The old Al Hamri district, the Pasha Mosque, the Santa Cruz Fortress, built on a high coastal rock at the beginning of the 17th century, are interesting.
Annaba - a city with a solid history
Annaba is a city in the north of Algeria, which was founded in the seventh century AD. And before that, in its place already existed the ancient Hippon - the southern outpost of the Roman Empire.
In the 21st century, Annaba is a major port, an important industrial and transport center of Algeria. Numerous enterprises of the metallurgical, chemical and engineering industries were built here in the second half of the twentieth century, not without the active assistance of the Soviet Union.
Tourists visit Annaba extremely rarely. Of the attractions, you can name a small old town with a fortress, as well as the ancient Sidi Bou Merian Mosque. The latter was built back in 1033 using building elements (columns) of ancient Hippo.
Tlemcen - the pearl of Northern Algeria
One of the most interesting cities on the Algerian coast is the ancient city of Tlemcen. Algeria can rightfully be proud of this historical and architectural pearl.
This city is relatively small (only 130 thousand people), but 45 architectural monuments have been preserved in it. That is why Tlemcen is often called the Algerian Open Air Museum!
Of genuine interest to tourists are the Tlemcen Cathedral Mosque, the Meshuar Palace, the medina of El Eubbad, the grave of Rabb-Aln-Kaua and other objects of the ancient city. In its center there is a beautiful observation platform with a wonderful view of Tlemcen, its high and sharp minarets, snow-white buildings and cozy courtyards. And this city is famous for its excellent quality carpets.
Finally...
So is Algeria a city or a country? Now you know the answer to this question. In a state called Algeria, there are two hundred cities, the largest of which are located in the northern part of the country. This is the capital of Algeria, as well as the cities of Oran, Constantine, Batna, Setif, Annaba and others.