TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

Once famed as one of Arabia's most beautiful cities, Algiers was never the same after years of colonial abuse. Today it's little more than a modern port town. Most people stay here just long enough to organise their transport to Tamanrasset and other parts of Algeria, Africa or Europe. Ghardaïa is actually a cluster of five towns in the river valley of the Oued M'Zab - Ghardaïa, Melika, Beni Isguen, Bou Noura and El-Ateuf. It is home to a conservative Muslim sect called the Mozabites, which broke from mainstream Islam some 900 years ago. Timimoun is a typical Saharan oasis town. There are over half-a-million palm trees in the oasis and there are views of an ancient salt lake and distant dunes from the edge of an escarpment on which the town is built. The architecture here is a magnificent terracotta colour, with smooth shapes and soft lines curving around the windows. Close to Timimoun oasis is Tasfaoud village, a small oasis with a 13th century Almohad castle and a fascinating desert irrigation system, a gravitation point for all the village houses. The area is famous for its carpets and the daily souq in the old town. It's worth visiting Beni Isguen, the religious fulcrum of the valley, 3km (1.9mi) from central Ghardaïa. Although, foreigners are not allowed to enter it without a local guide. Tagged the 'Town of a Thousand Domes', El-Oued is the major town of the Souf region in the Grand Erg Oriental. Most of the buildings have domes, built to alleviate the summer heat. The town is also famous for its carpets, which often bear the traditional cross of the Souf. The daily souq in the old part of town is at its most colourful on Friday.

TRAVEL TIPS

There is a continuing threat from terrorism in Algeria. You are at risk of being caught up in attacks by terrorist groups if you travel by road in certain parts of northern Algeria. Overland travel between major cities should be avoided at night. Buses and other vehicles are targets, particularly at illegal vehicle checkpoints. Sustained small-scale attacks, including bombings, illegal roadblocks, kidnapping and murder, occur in rural and remote sections of the country. Vary your daily travel routines, changing the timings and routes of regular journeys where possible. In certain areas of larger cities there are incidents of robbery (muggings), bag snatching, pick-pocketing and thefts of and from motor vehicles. There have been reports of car-jackings and robberies and thefts by criminals posing as police officers outside the main cities. You should avoid areas that you do not know, especially after dark. Do not carry large amounts of money or valuables around with you. You should take care not to become caught up in a demonstration that may lead to violence. You should arrange to be met on arrival and in Algiers and should stay at one of the main hotels that take proper security precautions. You should not use public transport other than taxis recommended by your hotel. Local laws reflect the fact that Algeria is a Muslim country. respect local customs and sensitivities at all times, especially during the holy month of Ramadan or if you intend to visit religious areas. The weekend is Thursday and Friday. There are, however, no restrictions on alcohol in restaurants, or in urban areas generally. In rural areas, women would be expected to dress conservatively. Possession, use and trafficking of controlled drugs are all serious criminal offences in Algeria, which carry custodial sentences. Homosexuality is illegal in Algeria. Sexual acts between persons of the same sex are regarded as outrages to public decency and are punishable by imprisonment. Do not attempt to take photos of police or military personnel or establishments. Entry visa to Algeria is required before traveling. You should not expect to be able to use ATM cards in Algeria. Credit cards are becoming more common, but their use is still confined to a limited number of establishments in the larger cities. Algerian Dinars should be obtained from bureaux de change at the international airports and larger hotels or from banks in the main cities. You should not attempt to change money on the streets. Algeria has strict foreign exchange laws and the Dinar cannot be exported. On departure, travellers must declare their Algerian currency and produce evidence of lawful exchange. We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling to Algeria. Check the list of Embassies of Algeria to the World or Embassies of Other Nations to Algeria.

BRIEF HISTORY

Algeria has been inhabited by Berbers since at least 10,000 BC. Berber kingdoms began to emerge from 1000 BC onward, most notably Numidia, seizing the opportunity offered by the Punic Wars to become independent of Carthage only to be taken over soon after by the Roman Republic in 200 BC. As the western Roman Empire collapsed, the Byzantine Empire then retained a precarious grip on the east of the country until the coming of the Arabs in the 8th century. The French invaded Algiers in 1830 and made Algeria an integral part of France. After more than a century of rule by France, Algerians fought through much of the 1950s to achieve independence in 1962. Algeria's primary political party, the National Liberation Front (FLN), has dominated politics ever since. Many Algerians in the subsequent generation were not satisfied, however, and moved to counter the FLN's centrality in Algerian politics. The surprising first round success of the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) in the December 1991 balloting spurred the Algerian army to intervene and postpone the second round of elections to prevent what the secular elite feared would be an extremist-led government from assuming power. The army began a crack down on the FIS that spurred FIS supporters to begin attacking government targets. The fighting escalated into an insurgency, which saw intense fighting between 1992-98 and which resulted in over 100,000 deaths - many attributed to indiscriminate massacres of villagers by extremists. The main problems that face modern days Angola include the ethnic minority Berbers' ongoing autonomy campaign, large-scale unemployment, a shortage of housing, unreliable electrical and water supplies, government inefficiencies and corruption, and the continuing - although significantly degraded - activities of extremist militants. Algeria must also diversify its petroleum-based economy, which has yielded a large cash reserve but which has not been used to redress Algeria's many social and infrastructure problems.

GEOGRAPHY

Area: total: 2,381,740 sq km; land: 2,381,740 sq km; water: 0 sq km.
Border Countries: Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Tunisia, Western Sahara.
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.
Terrain: mostly high plateau and desert; some mountains; narrow, discontinuous coastal plain.
Natural Resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, uranium, lead, zinc.
Natural Hazards: mountainous areas subject to severe earthquakes; mudslides and floods in rainy season.
Environmental Problems: 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.

PEOPLE

Population: 33,000,000.
Median Age: total: 24.9 years; male: 24.7 years; female: 25.1 years.
Life Expectancy: male:71.68 years, female: 74.92 years.
Fertility Rate: 1.89 children born per woman.
Infectious Diseases: degree of risk: intermediate; food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever; vectorborne disease: cutaneous leishmaniasis is a high risk in some locations.
Major Ethnic Groups: Arab-Berber 99%, European less than 1%.
Religions: Sunni Muslim (state religion) 99%, Christian and Jewish 1%.
Languages: Arabic (official), French, Berber dialects.

GOVERNMENT

Type: republic (People's Democratic Republic of Algeria).
Capital City: Algiers.
Time Difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time). Check current time.
Administrative Divisions: 48 provinces (wilayat, singular - wilaya).
National Holiday: Revolution Day, 1 November (1954).
Chief of State: President.
Head of Government: Prime Minister.
Cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president.
Legislative Branch: bicameral Parliament consisting of the National People's Assembly (389 seats) and the Council of Nations (Senate) (144 seats).

ECONOMY

The hydrocarbons sector is the backbone of the economy, accounting for roughly 60% of budget revenues, 30% of GDP, and over 95% of export earnings. Algeria has the seventh-largest reserves of natural gas in the world and is the second-largest gas exporter; it ranks 14th in oil reserves. Sustained high oil prices in recent years, along with macroeconomic policy reforms supported by the IMF, have helped improve Algeria's financial and macroeconomic indicators. Algeria is running substantial trade surpluses and building up record foreign exchange reserves. Real GDP has risen due to higher oil output and increased government spending. The government's continued efforts to diversify the economy by attracting foreign and domestic investment outside the energy sector, however, has had little success in reducing high unemployment and improving living standards. The population is becoming increasingly restive due to the lack of jobs and housing and frequently stages protests, which have resulted in arrests and injuries, including some deaths as government forces intervened to restore order. Structural reform within the economy, such as development of the banking sector and the construction of infrastructure, moves ahead slowly hampered by corruption and bureaucratic resistance.
GDP: $235.5 billion, Growth Rate: 5.5%, GDP Per Capita: $7,200.
Unemployment Rate: 17,1%
Population Below Powerty Line: 25%
Agriculture Products: wheat, barley, oats, grapes, olives, citrus, fruits; sheep, cattle.
Major Industries: petroleum, natural gas, light industries, mining, electrical, petrochemical, food processing.
Export Commodities: petroleum, natural gas, and petroleum products 97%.
Export Partners: US 22.8%, Italy 16.2%, Spain 10.4%, France 10%, Canada 8%, Brazil 6.1%, Belgium 4.4%, Germany 4.2%.
Import Commodities: capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods.
Import Partners: France 28.2%, Italy 7.8%, Spain 7.1%, China 6.6%, Germany 6.3%, US 5.5%.
Currency: Algerian dinar (DZD). Check current rate of exchange.

TRANSPORT

Airports: 142
Railways: 3,973 km.
Roadways: 104,000 km.
Major Ports and Terminals: Algiers, Annaba, Arzew, Bejaia, Djendjene, Jijel, Mostaganem, Oran, Skikda.