During the era of the French conquest, the number Algerian population was approx. 3 million people. In 1966 it already reached 11.823 million people, and in 1997 – 29.476 million people. In 1996 it was 28.5 per 1000 people, and the mortality rate was 5.9 per 1000 people. Infant mortality (children under one year old) is 48.7 per 1000 newborns. In the mid-1990s, approx. 68% of the population was under 29 years of age.

It was originally inhabited by peoples speaking Berber languages. These peoples back in 2000 BC. moved here with. Most of the modern population uses a colloquial version of Arabic in everyday life. Arabs settled in Algeria during the Islamic conquests of the 7th and 8th centuries. and nomadic 11th–12th centuries. The mixing of two waves of settlers with the autochthonous population led to the emergence of the so-called Arab-Berber ethnic group, in the cultural development of which the Arab element played a dominant role.

As the main ethnic subgroup of Algerian society, the Berbers play an important role in the life of the country. During the period of the Roman and Arab conquests of the North, many Berbers moved from the coast to the highlands. Berbers make up approximately 1/5 of the country's population. The largest concentration of the Berber population is found in the mountainous area of ​​Djurjura, east of the capital, known as Kabylia. The local residents, the Kabyles, have settled in many cities of the country, but carefully preserve ancient traditions. Other significant groups of the Berber population are represented by the Shawiya tribal alliances, originating from the mountainous region around Batna, the Mzabita, settled in the oases of the North, and the Tuareg nomads living in the far south in the Ahaggar region.

After the conquest of Algeria in the 19th century. the number increased, and by 1960 there were already approx. 1 million Europeans. Most had French roots, the ancestors of the rest moved to Algeria from, and. After Algeria declared independence in 1962, most Europeans left the country.

Most of the Algerian population are Sunni Muslims (Malikis and Hanafis). A number of followers of the Ibadite sect live in the Mzab Valley, Ouargla and Algiers. The state religion of the country is. There are approx. 150 thousand Christians, mostly Catholics, and approximately 1 thousand adherents of Judaism.

The official language is Arabic, but French is still widely spoken. Some Berber tribes speaking Tamahak and Tamazirt acquired their own written language. Several books have already been published in the Tamazirt dialect in Algeria.

About 3/4 of the population is concentrated in the foothills of the Tell Atlas, approximately 1.5 million people live in the highlands and less than one million in the Sahara. Highest density celebrated near the capital and in the Kabylia region.

The indigenous population of Algeria is the Algerians, consisting of Arabs and Berbers close to them in culture. By appearance Algerians, as a rule, are people of average height, dark, black-haired, with black eyes and a long face shape of the Mediterranean type.

The majority of Algerians (%) consider Arabic their native language, the rest - Berber dialects (%). The Berber population predominates among the highlanders and in the oases of the Sahara (Kabila, Shawiya, Tuareg), and Berbers are often equally They also speak Arabic well. People who have received education or worked abroad, as a rule, have a good knowledge of French in addition to their native language. Spoken form French is widely spoken in cities. On literary Arabic are published government documents, books, magazines, newspapers.

A small part of the population are citizens foreign countries, employed in temporary work as specialists. They usually speak French.

The vast majority of Algerians are Sunni Muslims.

Algeria is one of the countries that has experienced high and sustained population growth in recent decades. Here, as in other countries of North Africa, there has long been a high birth rate associated with the Muslim tradition. Improved health care services for the population contributed to a reduction in previously high (especially among children) mortality, as a result, the birth rate began to far exceed the death rate.

In 1965-1970 the birth rate was 49 per 1 thousand inhabitants, and the death rate was 17. By 1979, the birth rate and death rate had decreased to 48 and 14, respectively, and the annual natural increase was 3.4%.

According to estimates, in 1980 the country's population reached 18.5 million people, and together with Algerians temporarily living abroad - over 19.3 million. Thus, since the previous census in 1966, the population has increased by 44% . If such high tempo If its growth continues, then by 2000 the country's population may double. (Note that over 50 years - from 1920 to 1970 - it increased 2.5 times.)

High tempo natural increase inevitably have an impact on age structure population. According to estimates for 1980, children under 15 years old already accounted for 47% of the population, and youth under 20 years old - 57%.

Population growth early ages means a reduction in the share of the working-age population despite its absolute growth. During the period between the two censuses (1954 and 1966), the share of the working-age population decreased from 36 to 22% (excluding Algerian emigrants).

The gender composition of the population is characterized by a predominance of women, especially middle and older ages, over the number of men, which is not typical for Arab countries. This is explained mainly by the consequences of the national liberation war of 1954-1962. Only a small part of working women, namely wage earners in cities, are included in the economically active population by the census. Thus, according to the 1966 census, only about 2% of the total female population was included, although many Algerian women work in agriculture.

The overall population growth in the country is accompanied by an increase in the proportion of urban residents, while the proportion of rural residents is constantly decreasing. In 1974, 52% of the population lived in cities (in 1954 - 23%, in 1966 - 39%). The population of the capital is growing especially rapidly. According to estimates for 1980, the number of its inhabitants, including its suburbs, is about 3 million.

The mass exodus of Europeans at one time served as an impetus for an increased influx of rural population to the cities. A stream of people poured into them, and primarily into the capital, seeking to find work and housing there. It was the influx of population from rural areas(reaching especially large sizes in dry years) caused an ever-accelerating increase in the number of city dwellers. Many rural migrants who find themselves in the city do not find work, and only stable connections with relatives and fellow countrymen who have some means of subsistence, help them adapt to new conditions.

The course of accelerated industrialization adopted after gaining independence led to a significant increase in employment of the urban population. However, the increase in the working-age population still exceeds the increase in the number of jobs, which causes unemployment in cities. Lack of work, in turn, pushes many Algerians to emigrate, mainly to Western Europe. IN last years As Algeria's economy develops, emigration is declining.

Acute land hunger in the traditional agricultural sector also causes emigration. For many years, one of the areas of outflow of population abroad has been Kabylia.

Currently, more than 800 thousand Algerians live abroad, of which 2/3

belongs to the economically active population. As a rule, young men without qualifications and without families emigrate. The vast majority of Algerian emigrants (up to 90%) go to work in France. Decisive role The knowledge of French by many Algerians plays a role in choosing a country of immigration.

The population is distributed extremely unevenly throughout the country: more than 90% of Algerians live in the northern part. The coastal strip and mountain valleys of Tell Atlas are especially densely populated. In the vilayas of Algeria and Oran, the population density exceeds 300 people per 1 sq. km. In the Algerian Sahara, the average density is less than 1 person per 1 sq. km.

The rural population leads a sedentary, semi-nomadic and nomadic lifestyle. In Western and central parts Northern Algeria is dominated by a sedentary population, mainly engaged in crop farming. Semi-nomads and nomadic pastoralists are settled in the High Plateaus, the Saharan Atlas and the Sahara. The settled population of the desert is the inhabitants of oases and industrial settlements. Settlement in agricultural areas and departure for seasonal earnings entails (in different areas in varying degrees) the decomposition of the tribal system among semi-nomads.

In the semi-desert zone and in the mountains, where life remains connected with nomadic cattle breeding, the patriarchal-natural way of life has not undergone such decomposition as in agricultural areas: the way of life of the nomads contributes to the preservation of many traditions of the past.

The crisis of the nomadic economy forces nomads to either migrate to the south of the Sahara, where access to civilization is difficult, or settle. Indicative in this regard is the development of the Ahaggar highlands, most of whose inhabitants are former nomads and semi-nomads.

The nomadic Berber Tuareg tribes in some cases switched to a sedentary lifestyle and took up farming. In Ahaggar's four agricultural cooperatives, the majority of farmers are Tuareg. Some of them are occupied with serving tourists, whose flow to Central Sahara is rapidly growing. Tuaregs produce souvenirs for sale, work as guides, etc. However, many of them continue to lead a nomadic lifestyle, and there is a tendency for nomads to move to southern regions Sugars.

IN material culture Algerians uniquely combine tradition and modernity. Traditional agricultural tools have changed little since the Arab conquest: wooden plows and a pitchfork, a hoe, a sickle; donkeys and camels harnessed in pairs are used as draft force. Self-governing farms, agricultural cooperatives, as well as modern private sector farms widely use tractors, combines and other latest equipment.

An ordinary Algerian village is a jumbled collection of small houses. A peasant's house, as a rule, is made of adobe, and in the mountains it is made of stone, with a flat roof on which there is a hole for smoke from a fireplace made of stone. The home usually consists of two rooms: in one they eat and sleep, in the other they prepare food. The entrance to the house leads from the courtyard where the cattle are kept. There is no furniture in such houses, except for a small table; the whole family eats and sleeps on the floor. The utensils consist of mats, blankets, baskets, and sometimes a carpet or rug; earthenware, metal utensils. The houses in the “socialist villages of the agrarian revolution”, built in areas where agricultural cooperatives are created, look completely different. There, each family receives a modern, comfortable house with several rooms. In any such village there is a school, a hospital, cultural and community service institutions, and a mosque. It is planned to build 10-15 villages of a new type in each vilaya.

The dwellings of nomads and semi-nomads, both Arabs and Berbers, have a common appearance among the nomads of North Africa - these are tents with dark woolen fabric stretched over them. The Tuareg tent is covered with goat skins.

The traditional type of urban dwelling is a stone, brick or adobe house (depending on the wealth of the owner), the windows and doors of which open onto a courtyard surrounded by a high wall. Fruit trees and flowers are planted in the yard. New town houses are typically multi-story, with balconies, shuttered windows, and stone floors to cope with the summer heat.

Villagers wear national clothes. Women do not cover their faces, they cover their heads with a scarf or veil, and the Berber women have a very bright veil - with red and yellow stripes. Women's clothing consists of wide trousers and a shirt. Men often combine national clothing with some element of European clothing, for example, wearing a jacket over a white galabiya (shirt).

This mixture of styles is also typical for city dwellers who have recently moved from the countryside. Most men in cities wear European clothes. In older people, it is often combined with a red fez. City women for the most part wear a traditional white veil “haik” and “laajar” - a white scarf embroidered with white threads or trimmed with lace, covering the lower part of the face up to the eyes. In the east of the country, women wear a black veil. Sometimes both are combined with European dress and shoes. Often on the streets of big cities you can see a characteristic picture - a mother and daughter, personifying the yesterday and today of Algeria. The mother's face is covered, her figure is wrapped in a blanket, her feet are wearing mules, her palms and feet are painted with henna. The daughter walks with her face open, she clearly uses European cosmetics and is dressed in the latest French fashion.

The main food of sedentary rural residents - fellahs - is barley and wheat bread, vegetables, dates, and cereal dishes. The food of nomads is barley cakes, sour milk, dates, and, on occasion, locust cakes. Both nomads and fellahs rarely eat meat. The food of the poor city dwellers is not much different from the food of the fellahs. Wealthy city dwellers consume significantly more than villager, animal proteins - meat, eggs, butter, milk.

The most popular and, for many, festive dishes of Algerian cuisine are “burek” - meat with onions and eggs, baked in dough, and “couscous”, prepared from meat, vegetables with spices and coarsely ground wheat. On the most solemn occasions, they prepare “meshui” - a whole lamb roasted on a spit. Muslims do not drink alcoholic beverages. The most favorite drinks are coffee and tea.

IN family life Algerians have few holidays. The birth of sons, circumcisions and weddings are celebrated. All major events in the life of an Algerian believer are accompanied by corresponding religious rites.

After 1962, Algeria made great strides in the education and training of national personnel, constantly increasing allocations for education in state budget(27% of expenses in 1969, 33% in 1975). Number of students in primary school in the period from 1963 to 1980 it increased several times. Over 80% of children aged (■> -13 years old) attend primary school. In 1980/81, 4 million children attended school.

The Algerian school is very acutely experiencing the problem of a shortage of teachers (about 60% of them in secondary and junior high schools are foreigners, mostly French) and the problem of the language of instruction. Teaching in primary school and partially (for % of students) in junior and senior secondary schools is conducted in Arabic. In other cases, they teach in French. Despite the growing number of Arab teachers, their shortage is holding back the pace of Arabization of the education system. The problems of Arabization are being developed by the Academy of the Arabic Language, created in 1975.

Experiencing rapid growth graduate School. Instead of one university existing in 1962, in 1981 there were already 15 universities. In addition, dozens of universities of various specializations have been created in the country (for example, the African Institute of Oil and Gas, created with the assistance of the USSR). At the end of the 70s, there were 65 thousand students in the country and more than 20 thousand specialists were trained.

Main scientific center is the University of Algiers. Scientific work is also carried out at the universities of Oran, Constantine and Annaba, as well as at the National Agronomy Institute, the Institute of Petroleum, the Center for Experimental Forestry, the Institute of Nuclear Research, etc. Applied scientific research is carried out by bureaus, centers and institutes created under the relevant ministries. Particular attention is paid to prospecting work and research in the field of geology, mining, oceanography, meteorology, physics of the Earth, as well as economics and sociology and many other branches of science.

Complex nature national culture Algeria is partly conveyed by the formula of the prominent figure of Algerian culture, Sheikh Ben Badis: “The Algerian people are Arabic by language, Berber by origin, Muslim by religion.” The culture of the Algerian people developed over many centuries as a result of the interaction and mutual influence of Arab and Berber tribes, Latin-Punic elements of pre-Arab times and the developed Arab-Islamic civilization of the Caliphate era, carriers of the Spanish-Moorish (Andalusian) culture of the Moors and Turkish conquerors. By now, all these components have basically merged into a single alloy. But some of them have still retained their specificity. For example, this applies to the traditions of Berber folklore and geometric patterns, Arabic poetry and the epic of the Bedouin tribes, the Andalusian and Turkish heritage in architecture and music. In addition, the formation of Algerian culture has been significantly influenced by the culture of France over the past century and a half. As a result, people educated in French still constituted the majority of the Algerian intelligentsia in the 60s, and the French-language literature of Algerians is still an integral part of their national literature.

Algerian Arabic-language literature has been on the rise since the 1920s. Medieval traditions of Arab historians, jurists, mystics-marabouts and poets, almost lost during the period Turkish conquest, partially revived in the 19th century. during the anti-colonial struggle, but mainly they exist in the sphere of religious journalism, folklore and poetry of the “neoclassical” refined type, the largest representative of which is Muhammad al-Eid. Among the folk poets, the Kabyle storyteller Mohand u-Mehand later became the most famous. In the 20-30s, the Ulema Association put forward a whole galaxy of talented poets and writers, such as A. Ben Badis, M. Zakaria, T. al-Madani, T. al-Okbi, A. R. Khokhu and others. during the war 1954-1962 A. Ashour, H. Ben Aisa, A. Ben Hadduka and T. Wattar came forward, reflecting the national liberation struggle of Algeria in their works. In the works of T. Wattara in the 70s, the gigantic changes that the revolution and progressive social transformations brought to the lives of Algerians were especially vividly embodied. Nowadays a new generation of Arabic-speaking writers is emerging, such as A. Belahsen, S. Gumukat, B. Marzak and others.

French-language literature of Algeria, represented in the 20s by the first novels of A. Hadj Hammou and S. Hodja, became world famous in the 50s and 60s thanks to major novelists and poets - M. Feraun, M. Mummery, M. Haddad, Y. Katebu and M. Dibu. Their work seems to combine several components: purely Algerian themes (the life of the peasants of Kabylia or the townspeople of Tlemcen, the fate of the intelligentsia and workers), subjects of Berber and Arab folklore, the traditions of French masters of prose. Especially complex are the motifs of folklore, metaphor and hyperbolization, techniques and methods of romanticism, modernism and neorealism in the works of Yassin Kateb. In the 70s, M. Dib continued to work in prose, and Y. Kateb switched entirely to drama, trying to create plays in the “local French” language (i.e., a mixture of French with the Algerian dialect of Arabic) or entirely in the dialect. Algerian poetry in French was represented in the 30s by J. Amrouche, in the 40s by the above-mentioned galaxy, as well as by B. Hadj Ali, B. Halfa, A. Crea. In the 60s he appeared as a poet R. Boudjedra, who in the 70s became the most prominent French-language novelist in Algeria.

The Algerian theater achieved great success, back in the 20s it produced such major masters (both playwrights, actors and directors) as Rashid Ksentini, Bashtarzi Mahiddin, Dahmoun, Allalou. After gaining independence, the traditions of the old masters were continued by Mustafa Kateb and especially famous outside of Algeria, Ruiched (Ahmed Ayyad), a playwright, actor, director, poet and veteran of the revolution. In addition to the Algerian National Theater, state theaters arose in Oran, Constantine, and Sidi Bel Abbes. There are also many groups of amateur enthusiasts operating in the country, which are popular among young people.

Algeria has many historical monuments. Some of them are unique city-museums (Timgad, Tipaza, Dzhemila), evidence of the presence of the ancient Romans. The most richly represented monuments of Arab-Muslim architecture of the X-XVIII centuries. These include the towns of Mzaba, completely preserved to this day, ruins of fortresses and castles (for example, Kalaa Beni Hammad), palaces and mosques ancient quarters cities of Algiers, Constantine and especially Tlemcen. But for Constantine and the cities of the coast, buildings are more typical Turkish period, for example, citadels (kasbahs) in Algeria, Bejaie, Annaba. The French period is reflected in the architecture of modern districts of many cities and is notable for the fact that it represents almost all the trends of European urban planning of the 19th-20th centuries, as well as eclecticism and the so-called colonial pseudo-Moorish style. In modern architecture there is a desire to move away from the trends of the colonial era, to combine the most modern and technically rational trends with the revival of traditional elements of Muslim architecture. These include the Palace of Nations, built in 1965, new city blocks, towns, and especially the “socialist villages of the agrarian revolution” built since the early 70s.

The art of Algeria is diverse. Along with traditional forms (applied crafts of Andalusian technology in Tlemcen and Constantine, Berber technology in Kabylia and the Sahara) all higher value acquire modern forms artistic creativity. There is a great variety of genres in painting - from bright miniatures by M. Rasim and M. Ranem to semi-abstract art by M. Lazreg and R. Zerarti. The bulk of Algerian painters, graphic artists and sculptors (forming a single union since 1963) devote their work to the life of the people, to the themes of the struggle for liberation (B. Fares, T. Akasha, B. Marduk). The work of some of them (B. Yelles, M. Issi-ahen, M. Mabrouk) is known outside of Algeria. In recent years, the works of a number of artists have increasingly shown an inclination towards Muslim traditions and techniques of folk arts and crafts, embroidery, painting, pattern, calligraphy Arabic script. National cinematography began with film documents about the war of 1954-1962. During the period since independence, about 30 feature films were shot, many of which received prizes at film festivals in Moscow, Leipzig, Cannes, Venice and Tunisia. The most famous are “The Wind from Aures” (1967) and “Chronicle of the Fiery Years” (1974) by L. Hamina, “The Battle of Algiers” (1966) by J. Saadi and G. Pontecorvo, “The Coal Miner” (1972 d.) M. Buamari and others. In the 70s, a number of films were made on the topics agrarian reform, life of nomads, social changes in the country. In cinema, as in poetry and prose, revolutionary themes continue to be developed.

Both tradition and modernity are most richly represented in musical culture. Folk music is captured in the songs and tunes of the Berber regions (especially among the Kabyles and Tuaregs), in the African melodies of the oases of the Sahara, and in the musical folklore of individual tribes and regions. Arab-Andalusian music is considered classical, the genres of which were developed back in Granada in the 13th-15th centuries, but were subsequently enriched by Iranian and Turkish modes (the latter in some places penetrated into the music of the Kabyles and Saharan Africans). Andalusian music is characterized by a special set of instruments, performance style and strict regulation. Songs composed in her style are still written in the now extinct Arab-Andalusian dialect. The combination of Andalusian classics and folk music gave rise to a special genre, "al-jad", characteristic of the entire Maghreb. It also has its own forms, rules and composition of the orchestra. Modern folk songs usually combine the traditions of song folklore of a particular area and the influence of the above musical genres, as well as the music of the Arab East and Europe.

Huge changes have occurred in Algeria since its independence in the field of health and public education. In 1962, there was one doctor on average for more than 40 thousand inhabitants, and after 15 years - already for 15 thousand. As a result of the implementation of economic and social development countries, as well as social programs, providing for the upliftment of individual areas, dozens of hospitals, dispensaries, clinics, and outpatient clinics were created. Since 1974, the country has introduced free medical service population.

Many people only know about Algeria that it is a state in Africa. Indeed, not many tourists visit this country, but a lot can be said about it and some speculations can be dispelled. Sometimes they even ask which country Algeria belongs to. But this is an independent state with its own history and culture. What is interesting about Algeria? Which country is on African continent called the Algerian People's Democratic Republic?

State structure

In Arabic, the country of Algeria is called "el-jazir", which means "islands". The state received this name due to the cluster of islands near coastline. The capital of the country, Algeria, is a city with the same name. This state in Africa is a unitary republic headed by a president. He is elected for a term of 5 years, the number of terms is unlimited. Legislature belongs to a bicameral Parliament. Algeria is divided into 48 vilays - provinces, 553 districts (diara), 1541 communes (baladiya). On November 1, Algerians celebrate a national holiday - Revolution Day.

Geography and nature

The country of Algeria occupies a large area. This is the second, after Sudan, largest state it is 2.3 million km2. Algeria neighbors Niger, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Tunisia and Libya. In the north lies the Mediterranean Sea. About 80% of the entire state is occupied by the Sahara. In its area there are both sandy deserts and stone ones.

Its highest point is Mount Takhat, 2906 m high. On the vast area of ​​the Sahara there is also a large salt lake, it is called Chott-Melgir and is located in the north of the Algerian part of the desert. There are also rivers in the state of Algeria, but almost all of them are temporary, existing only during the rainy season.

The largest river (700 km long) is the Sheliff River. The rivers of the northern part of the country flow into the Mediterranean Sea, and the rest disappear into the sands of the Sahara.

The vegetation of northern Algeria is typically Mediterranean, dominated by cork oak, and in semi-deserts - alpha grass. In arid zones, very small areas have vegetation.

Population and language

Algeria is inhabited by more than 38 million people. The bulk, 83% of all residents, are Arabs. 16% are Berbers, descendants of the ancient who consist of several tribes. Another about 1% is occupied by representatives of other nationalities, mainly the French. State religion in Algeria - Islam, the main population is predominantly Sunni.

The country has only one official language - Arabic, although French is no less popular. About 75% of the population are fluent in it. There are also Berber dialects. Despite the country's large area, the main population of Algeria, more than 95%, is concentrated in the north, on a narrow coastal strip and the Kabylia massif. More than half of the population lives in cities - 56%. Literacy among men reaches 79%, while among women it is only 60%. Algerian Arabs live in large communities in France, Belgium and the United States.

Story

On the territory of modern Algeria in the 12th century BC. e. Phoenician tribes appeared. In the 3rd century the state of Numidia was formed. The ruler of this country got involved in a war against Rome, but was defeated. Its territories became part of the Roman possessions. In the 7th century, the Arabs invaded here and lived for a long time. At the beginning of the 16th century, Algeria came under the control of Ottoman Empire. But it was difficult to manage because geographical location. As a result, France took over this African country, and from 1834 the country of Algeria became French colony. The state began to look like a European one. The French built entire cities great attention was also given to agriculture. But indigenous people was never able to come to terms with the colonialists. The national liberation war lasted several years. And in 1962, Algeria became independent. Most of the French then left Africa. For about 20 years, the government tried to build socialism, but as a result of coups, Islamic fundamentalists came to power. The armed confrontation continues to this day. The situation in the country is extremely unstable.

Economy

• The monetary unit of the state is the Algerian dinar.
• The basis of the economy is oil and gas production - about 95% of all exports. Copper, iron, zinc, mercury and phosphates are also mined in Algeria.

• Agriculture occupies a smaller volume in the structure of the economy, but it is quite diverse. They grow grains, grapes, and citrus fruits. Wine is produced for export. Algeria is the largest exporter of pistachios. In the semi-desert, alpha grass is collected and processed, from which paper of excellent quality is subsequently obtained.
• In livestock farming, people specialize in breeding goats and sheep.
• In the coastal part they engage in fishing.

Culture

The capital of the country Algeria is the oldest and beautiful city, located in a bay with the same name. All buildings are made of light building material, which gives a special festive look to the city. Here you can see both strange narrow streets with low houses and beautiful oriental-style mosques. Among them, buildings from the 17th century stand out - the tomb of Sidd Abdarrahman and the Jami al-Jadid mosque. The modern part of the city is dominated by new buildings - offices, tall administrative buildings.

Transport

• By development transport communication Algeria is one of the leaders among African states.
• There are many roads, about 105 thousand km. They are indispensable for communication between cities.
• The country's railways stretch over 5 thousand km.
• By using water transport 70% of all international transport occurs. This gives the right to call Algeria the main water power in Africa.
• Developed and air service. The country of the world Algeria has 136 airfields, of which 51 are concrete-surfaced. The largest and most important airfield - Dar el Beida - carries out both domestic flights and flights to Europe, Asia, Africa, North America. A total of 39 international destinations.

Kitchen

Algerian cuisine is part large complex Migrib culinary traditions. Many similar dishes can be found in neighboring Tunisia. Dishes made from Mediterranean products are widely popular. Fresh fruits and vegetables and olives are often used for cooking. A traditional Berber dish is steak. Alcohol is prohibited in Muslim Algeria. Here it is customary to drink sweet green tea with nuts, mint or almonds. Lovers of invigorating drinks prefer strong “Arabic” coffee.

Shopping

Shopping in Algeria has its own characteristics, or rather, the opening hours of stores. For Europeans it is not entirely familiar. The fact is that residents of Algeria, as a Muslim state, take a two-hour break for a siesta while working. This also applies to stores that operate in two stages: morning - from 8.00 to 12.00, and afternoon - from 14.00 to 18.00. TO souvenir shops this does not apply. They work "until the last visitor." Groceries can be bought in supermarkets from early morning until late at night. Tourists can bring various souvenirs from this African country: wood, leather and molds, copper coins, Berber carpets, silver jewelry or mats with Berber motifs.

Tourist safety

Algeria - developing country, Special attention tourism is not given much attention, and some cities are even considered potentially dangerous for tourists. Visiting them is strongly discouraged. Although there is no official ban. There have been cases of abductions of tourists. At the same time, the north of the country is considered absolutely safe. It's worth going to the Sahara only organized group, with a local guide. Excursions and tours should only be booked with official tour operators.

1. Personal jewelry - items made of gold, silver and platinum - must be declared at customs upon entry into the country.
2. No more than 1 block of cigarettes or 50 cigars, 2 liters weakly can be imported into Algeria without duty alcoholic drinks(less than 22º), and 1 liter of strong alcoholic drinks (more than 22º).
3. If your passport contains a mark indicating that you have crossed the Israeli border, then entry into Algeria is prohibited.
4. Sometimes ATMs ask you to enter a 6-digit PIN code. In this case, you need to enter the first two zeros.
5. Photograph local population Not recommended. This is considered indecent.
6. Only bottled water should be used.
7. The coast is comfortable to visit throughout the year, although the country of Algeria is not exactly a beach resort and there are no good hotels.
8. There are a huge number of Phoenician, Roman and Byzantine ruins on the territory of the state.
9. On a cliff 124 meters above sea level is the Cathedral of Our Lady of Africa.

Above the entrance there is an inscription in French - “Our Lady of Africa, pray for us and for Muslims.” This is the only place in the world where the Catholic religion mentions the Muslim religion.

Algeria is the largest country in Africa by area, and although 80% of the territory of this country is occupied by the hot Sahara desert, unsuitable for human habitation, the remaining 20% ​​is a real tropical paradise. Every year, more and more tourists from all over the world come to Algeria on vacation and at first sight fall in love with the beautiful natural landscapes, ancient cities and unique flavor of this country, and then upon arrival home they long remember the warm Mediterranean Sea, the white walls of the minarets and the hospitality of the Algerian people . And most foreigners who have visited Algeria are sure that first of all it is worth going to this country to see with their own eyes Arab world and get acquainted with the Arab mentality, because there are seas and mountains in many parts of the planet, but there are not many Arab peoples left who have preserved ancient traditions and have not yet adopted the Western way of life.

National characteristics of Algerians

Now most The population of Algeria is Arabs, so many consider this state to be Arab, but this is not so - the indigenous population of the country are the Berbers, who lived in this territory before the Arabs conquered their lands. Therefore, the culture and psychology of the Algerians is a mixture of Arab and Berber traditions, on which some imprints were left by the colonial era when Algeria was under French rule. However, it cannot be said that the Algerians adopted too much from the French - they, like Algerians, managed to take only the best from the morals of another nation, while preserving their traditions and Arab mentality.

Modern Algerians are both similar and different from others Arab peoples, because their way of life and morals are largely dictated by Islam, but the traditions of the Berbers and the peculiarities of the climate and economy of the country also significantly influenced the formation of the national characteristics of the inhabitants of Algeria. And the most striking features of the national character of Algerians, according to foreigners who have visited this country, are:

1. Kindness. Algerians are very kind and generous people; Hospitality, mutual assistance and caring are in their blood. Representatives of this nation, like other Arab peoples, tend to take other people's pain to heart and make every effort to help both friends and strangers who are in trouble. In this, Algerians are similar to, because the inhabitants of this African country are also, in an impulse, capable of “giving their shirt off” to help out someone in need. The kindness of Algerians is also evident in Everyday life: for example, they are always ready to come to the aid of tourists - to show them the way, talk about their customs, and even invite them to visit and provide overnight accommodation for free.
2. Openness. The national characteristics of the Arabs are such that the residents of Algeria are open and hospitable, they can easily start a conversation with a stranger, and they will talk not only about distant topics, but also tell a lot of interesting things about themselves, their city, country and way of life. But there are still taboo topics in conversation with Algerians - representatives of this nation do not accept if their interlocutor begins to criticize their religion or traditions.
3. Friendliness. Thanks to their kindness and openness, Arabs can find a “common language” with any person and representatives of this people treat their friends with the same love and care as they treat their family members, so friendship in Algeria is highly valued.
4. Enterprise. Algerians, like other Arab nations, are characterized by entrepreneurship and the ability to earn money. Algerian traders can advertise any product in such a way that foreign buyers will be ready to pay triple the price for it, and Algerian wage earners are always trying to find Additional income to increase your income. And the fact that Algerian citizens know how to earn money is evidenced not only by the example of private entrepreneurs from this country, but also by the entire Algerian economy - thanks to the sale of oil and gas in this state, the cost of food and gasoline for the population is very low, and housing for young families - free.
5. Cheerfulness. An optimistic outlook on life is another national peculiarity Algerians. Residents of Algeria often smile, rarely lose heart and always hope for the best. Perhaps the reason for the cheerfulness and optimism of Algerians is in their faith, and perhaps in the warmth tropical climate, because hot sunny weather is not at all conducive to sadness and melancholy.
6. 
   Love for children. In Algeria, the attitude towards children is completely different than in European countries, because in the UK and in most other EU countries it is believed that raising a child is a private matter for his parents and teachers, and strangers should not interfere in this process. Algerians, on the other hand, treat children completely differently - they can treat a stranger to sweets, emotionally admire other people’s children, and if unknown child If he behaves badly on the street, reprimand him in a kind way. At first, such love of Algerians for all children greatly surprises foreigners, because on the streets of European cities it is not customary to approach other people’s children, praise them and treat them with sweets, but in Algeria this is considered normal.
7. Religiosity. The majority of the population of Algeria are Sunni Muslims, who fulfill all the commandments of Allah. Most big celebration for Algerians - the holy month of Ramadan, during which the entire population observes strict fasting and eats only after sunset. Algerians also observe a ban on alcohol - you can buy alcohol in this country only in specialized stores, of which there are few even in large cities.

Psychology of Arabs in everyday life and in personal life

Even though Algeria is Muslim state, on the streets of the cities of this country it is almost impossible to see women in burqas - Algerian women wear ordinary clothes, work and participate in social life. Most Algerian large families, and much of the responsibilities for raising children falls on mothers, although fathers are also happy to care for their children. In average Algerian families, in accordance with Arab psychology, the husband is the main breadwinner, but the woman manages the money, and when deciding family and financial issues, the wife often has the last word. According to the Algerians themselves, their women are very demanding, so many Algerian guys studying abroad strive to find life partners from the CIS and EU countries.

Have higher education honorable in Algeria , therefore both boys and girls strive to pass as best as possible final exams at school (they are also entrance halls for universities) in order to enter good university for a prestigious specialty, and wealthy families send their children to study in European countries and Russia. Algerians prefer to start their own families after graduating from university and finding employment in their specialty, and in Algeria, both arranged marriages by parents and love marriages are equally practiced.

Arabs approach the choice of a life partner with the utmost seriousness, because in this country they have very strong family ties and by A person is judged primarily by his family. A wedding in Algeria is not just the creation of a new unit of society, but the unification of two families, and therefore Algerians pay attention not only to personal qualities the chosen one, but also on the reputation of her entire family. After the wedding, young people most often live for some time with their husband’s parents, and then move to their own housing provided by the state. Algerians prefer to live in private houses, Moreover, these houses are built in such a way that as the family grows, another 1-2 floors can be added.