Is Algiers a city or a country? Not everyone knows the answer to this question. Our article will exhaustively answer it. In addition, here you will find interesting information about the largest cities of the largest African state by area.
Is Algiers 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. In terms of 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 can still be heard here.
The capital of this state is Algiers. The city of the same name is located on the Mediterranean coast. About him, as well as other large cities of Northern Algeria, will be discussednext.
Largest cities in northern Algeria
There are a lot of cities in the state of Algeria. There are about two hundred of them in total. The smallest Algerian city is home to 37,000 people.
It is important to note that most of the large settlements are concentrated in the northern part, since the southern expanses are occupied by the lifeless and hot Sahara desert.
The following is a list of the largest cities in northern Algeria, in order of decreasing population:
- Algeria.
- Oran.
- Konstantina.
- Batna.
- Setif.
- Annaba.
- Sidi Bel Abbess.
- Biskra.
- Bejaya.
- Mpower.
- Blida.
- Skikda.
- El Oued.
- Tlemcen.
- Release.
We will talk about some of them in more detail.
Algiers: photo of the city and description of its sights
The capital of the state of the same name was founded back in 944. Modern Algeria is a city with almost three million inhabitants. In shape, it resembles a triangle, in the center of which there is a picturesque hill with an ancient citadel. This is one of the few cities in Africa where you can ride a tram or ride a real subway!
Algiers is not only a major metropolitan city, but also an invaluable treasury of historical and architectural monuments of antiquity. Being here, it is impossible not to visit the old district of the city - the Kasbah. It is famous for its narrow, intricate streets and architecture of buildings unusual for a European tourist. They say that at the timeDuring the occupation, French soldiers were afraid to enter the Kasbah, as it was easy to get lost there. Today, this unique region 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. Chegevars, 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 love to walk along Didos Murad Street. This city artery is densely built up with beautiful colonial-era buildings, on the first floors of which there are many shops, souvenir shops and cafes.
The city of Oran is the second most populated in Algeria
Inhabitants in Oran are almost four times less than in Algiers. However, this does not prevent him from being the second largest city 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 on the site of modern Oran in ancient times. Today, lions can only be seen on the coat of arms 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 sights in Oran, although here the tourist will find something to see. Of interest are the ancient district of El-Hamri, the Pasha Mosque, the Santa Cruz fortress, built on a highcoastal cliff at the beginning of the 17th century.
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, the ancient Hippo, the southern outpost of the Roman Empire, already existed in its place.
Annaba in the 21st century is a major port, an important industrial and transport center of Algeria. Numerous enterprises of the metallurgical, chemical and machine-building industries were built here in the second half of the 20th century, not without the active assistance of the Soviet Union.
Tourists rarely come to Annaba. Of the sights, one can name a small old city with a fortress, as well as the ancient mosque of Sidi Bou Merian. The latter was built back in 1033 using building elements (columns) from 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 rightly be proud of this historical and architectural gem.
This city is relatively small (only 130 thousand people), but 45 architectural monuments have been preserved in it. That's why Tlemcen is often called Algeria's open-air museum!
Tourists are genuinely interested in the Tlemcen Cathedral Mosque, the Mechouar Palace, the El Eubbad medina, the tomb of Rabb Aln Kaua and other objects of the ancient city. In its center there is a beautiful observation platform from which a wonderfulview of Tlemcen, its high and sharp minarets, snow-white buildings and cozy courtyards. This city is also famous for its excellent quality carpets.
In conclusion…
So, is Algiers a city or a country? Now you know the answer to this question. In a state called Algiers, there are two hundred cities, the largest of which are located in the northern part of the country. This is the capital of Algiers, as well as the cities of Oran, Constantine, Batna, Setif, Annaba and others.
