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Geography and Environment of Algeria
Terrain, climate, natural resources, hazards, and environmental conditions of Algeria.
Speed
Overview
second-largest country in Africa (after Sudan)
Detailed geography
Physical Features
- Terrain
- mostly high plateau and desert; some mountains; narrow, discontinuous coastal plain
- Climate
- In Algeria the climate varies. Coastal areas, including Algiers, are hot in summer and chilly and rainy for several months in winter. Inland mountain regions between the coast and the desert have cooler weather; temperatures are below freezing for long periods of winter. Spring and fall in the "Tell" (a part of northern Algeria in which the average annual rainfall is 16 inches or more, making it usable for agriculture), are mild and enjoyable. The Tell and the Sahara have climate extremes, although in different ways. The Tell is very cold in winter and very hot in summer. The Sahara’s extremes are between daytime (warm in winter; hot in late spring, summer, early fall) and nighttime (cold year round). Algiers has four distinct seasons, with temperature variations ranging normally between 40-110 degrees Fahrenheit. It tends to be extremely hot during the month of August, and some winters can be cold and rainy. In general, however, the weather is quite pleasant, but mold and mildew can be a real problem. Despite its warm summer, Algiers has what is often described as a "cold climate with a hot sun." Winter temperatures rarely fall below freezing. Cool weather generally begins in November and lasts into March. The rainy season spans about five months.
- Weather Patterns
- http://voap.weather.com/weather/oap/AGXX0001?template=TRVLH&par=1003114983&unit=0&key=5b85ae1d85877a1b34827fba743e2133
- Highest Point
- 3003 — Tahat 3,003 m
- Lowest Point
- -40 — Chott Melrhir -40 m
Borders and Area
- Area (Comparative)
- slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Texas
- Border Countries
- Libya 982 km, Mali 1,376 km, Mauritania 463 km, Morocco 1,559 km, Niger 956 km, Tunisia 965 km, Western Sahara 42 km
- Maritime Claims
- territorial sea: 12 NM exclusive fishing zone: 32-52 NM
Natural Resources and Hazards
- Natural Resources
- Petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, uranium, lead, and zinc. Algeria's economy is heavily dependent on hydrocarbons, with petroleum and natural gas representing the dominant natural resources and accounting for the vast majority of export revenues and government income. Hydrocarbons typically constitute over 90% of total export earnings and roughly 60% of government budget revenues. Algeria holds some of Africa's largest proven natural gas reserves and ranks among the continent's leading oil producers, with total crude oil production capacity remaining a cornerstone of its economic output. The country is also a significant exporter of liquefied natural gas, supplying key markets in Europe and beyond. Solid minerals such as iron ore, phosphates, uranium, lead, and zinc offer additional long-term economic potential, and the government has made efforts in recent years to attract investment in the mining sector as part of broader economic diversification strategies. However, the development of these mineral resources remains limited compared to the dominant hydrocarbons sector. Algeria's reliance on energy exports has prompted ongoing policy discussions around reducing fiscal dependence on oil and gas revenues and building a more diversified economic base.
- Natural Hazards
- mountainous areas subject to severe earthquakes; mudslides and floods in rainy season
Environment and Land Use
- Current Environmental Issues
- 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
- International Agreements
- party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements