| |  | | | Algeria | Geography of Algeria | | | | | | | |
Short facts about the geography of Algeria
|
| Maritime
claims: |
exclusive fishing
zone: 32-52 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM |
| 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 |
| Elevation
extremes: |
lowest point:
Chott Melrhir -40 m
highest point: Tahat 3,003 m |
| Natural
resources: |
petroleum, natural gas,
iron ore, phosphates, uranium, lead, zinc |
| Land
use: |
arable land:
3%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 13%
forests and woodland: 2%
other: 82% (1993 est.) |
| Irrigated
land: |
5,550 sq km (1993 est.) |
| Natural
hazards: |
mountainous areas subject
to severe earthquakes; mud slides |
| Environment
- current 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 |
| Environment
- 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: Nuclear Test Ban |
| Geography
- note: |
second-largest country in
Africa (after Sudan) |
Source: World Factbook |
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