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Interesting Facts about Algeria

Trivia, oddities, and curious tidbits about Algeria.

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12 curious facts about Algeria.

Clementine oranges are originally from west Algeria. They are named after a French priest called Father Clément, who found them growing in the village of Misserghin, near Oran, in the early 20th century.
The best-known variety of date in Algeria is the "deglet nour", known as the "fruit of the light".
The Sahara Desert stretches across Africa from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Red Sea in the east and covers 9 million square kilometers.
In the flat, barren areas of the Sahara desert, the temperature is often 45°C and may reach 50°C.

People of French origin who were born in Algeria were once called “pieds-noirs” (black feet), because the French troops stationed in Algeria wore black boots.
Tuaregs are known as “the blue people” because they wear a veil called a "taquelmust" that is dyed with indigo and it stains their skin blue. In Tuareg villages, it is the men who traditionally veil their faces.
Because the holy day for Muslims is Friday, many businesses are open between Saturday and Wednesday, and closed on Thursday and Friday.
The people of the Souf region in eastern Algeria are able to grow dates and other fruits in the desert. They dig deep pits in the sand and plant date palms and other fruit trees at the bottom. The roots of the trees are able to reach down to water deep in the earth.
Although Algeria is generally thought of as a hot country, it is possible to ski at resorts in the Algerian mountains. The ski resort of Chréa is only 70 kilometers south of Algiers.
At the age of 18, Algerian men are required to do military service for a year and a half.