Algeria lies in central North Africa, between Morocco to the west, Tunisia and Libya to the east, Mauritania, Mali and Niger to the south, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north. It is the second biggest country in Africa (after Sudan) and the tenth biggest in the world.

The different landscapes and climatic regions of Algeria can be very simply pictured as four parallel bands running across the country from east to west.

The first band, which runs across the north of the country, roughly follows Algeria’s 1,200km coastline. This hilly, narrow sub-coastal zone is called the Tell, and makes up only a few per cent of the country’s total area. But because of its fertile land the Tell is home to over 90 per cent of the population. Algeria’s capital, Algiers, and the country’s other major cities are situated on or near the Mediterranean coast.

Secondly, (as you travel southwards) come the peaks and valleys of the Tell Atlas mountain ranges, dropping slightly to an expanse of largely barren plains called the High Plateaus.

The third band consists of more mountain chains, rising to the south of the High Plateaus, and forming part of the Saharan Atlas range.

The fourth (and by far the biggest) of Algeria’s natural regions is the Sahara desert which stretches southwards from the Saharan Atlas mountains and covers more than 80 per cent of the country. Here you will find some of the most extreme conditions and spectacular sights on the planet.

Rainfall in northern Algeria averages 1,000mm annually, although the high plateaus are drier than the sub-coastal Tell. Villages in parts of the Sahara Desert might have no rain for 20 years at a time. The north has hot summers, with daytime temperatures averaging 32ºC, and high humidity along the coast. In the Sahara, midday temperatures can exceed 55ºC. Between November and February the far north is damp and chilly, and skiing is possible in the sub-coastal mountains. During these months the Sahara’s heat drops only slightly. In summer, a hot and dry Saharan wind called the Sirocco blows northwards into coastal cities, carrying desert sand and dust with it.

The main crops grown in Algeria’s arable areas are wheat, barley, oats, maize, and sorghum. Algeria is also one of the world’s biggest producers of cork. There are vineyards and tobacco plantations producing goods for export, along with olives, figs, dates, and a huge variety of fruit and vegetables.

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