Located along the coast of northern Africa, Algeria is a predominantly Muslim country that is bordered by both the Mediterranean Sea and the Sahara Desert. The extreme climate plays a big role in the nation’s economy, tourism, as well as culture.
The main elements of the climate, on which agriculture and other aspects of the economy depend, include the amount of rainfall as well as the timing and magnitude of the sirocco, a dry and fierce wind that comes from the Sahara.
While the population primarily identifies as Arab, there is also a sizable Berber population. With links to the Ottoman Empire, as well as French colonization, Algeria’s history is rich and diverse. Arabic is the official national language but French is also widely spoken. Oil, national gas and mineral deposits comprise a significant part of its wealth and economy and its capital, Algiers, is a bustling metropolis that serves as a center of business and culture.