Algeria is the largest country in Africa at 2.4 million square kilometers (593 million acres). As part of the Maghreb region of North America, which is the western part of the Arab world, Algeria is also considered the largest Arab nation. It is the 10th largest country in the world with a population of just over 42.2 million.
The landscape in this African country is so diverse—it has everything any tourist would ever want! There is a Sahara desert, beaches along the Mediterranean, and mountains that are covered in lush vegetation, which could turn into a winter wonderland during the cold months. It is also home to seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites. There was a time when the safety of tourists was a big problem in Algeria—that has not been the case in over a decade. In fact, tourism in Algeria is increasing every year. It is currently the fifth most visited country in Africa with 2.5 million tourists visiting the country in 2018.
Algeria is home to many beautiful structures—from ancient ones to modern architecture. Equally magnificent are the natural resources of Algeria ensconced in nine national parks. Tourists should check out these five unexplored national parks in Algeria:
1. Belezma National Park
This park is situated on the slopes of Belezma Range, which is part of the Aurès Mountains. The highest peak in the Belezma is Djebel Refâa, which stands at 2,178 meters tall. Other imposing peaks are Djebel Tichaou standing at 2,136 meters and Djebel Touggourt at 2,090 meters. Djebel Touggourt actually means Cedar Peak, which is significant because Belezma is known for its Atlas cedar forests. This species of the evergreen tree is native to the Atlas mountains. There are close to 450 species of flora within the park.
The majority of the park is actually the Belezma Plain, which is one of the most fertile regions in Algeria. This means that vegetation in the plains is lush and green.
2. Chrea National Park
This is one of the largest parks in Algeria and is located in Blida Province. The park stands on the Blidean Atlas, which is part of the Tell Atlas, a 1,500-kilometer mountain chain of the Atlas mountain range. The Atlas mountains stretch from Morocco through Algeria and Tunisia. One of the best things about his park is that it is wonderful in every season. It has the Chrea ski station, which is one of the ski stations in Africa that has real snow for winter activities. It definitely turns into a winter wonderland.
Another natural attraction in the park is the Chiffa gorge, which is also part of the Tell Atlas. The gorge hosts a large population of Barbary macaque. This species of macaque is native of the Atlas Mountains, especially in the regions of Algeria and Morocco. The Barbary macaque is one of the most popular Old World monkeys. These species also depend on plants and insects, which is why they thrive in Chrea. The species is considered endangered because of the problem of deforestation. Barbary macaques have been endangered since 2009. Seventy-five percent of the total population of this primate is found in the Middle Atlas, which is why the population in Chrea is very important.
3. Djurdjura National Park
The park is named after the Djurdjura Range of the Tell Atlas in the Kabylie region. The Djurdjura is a massif with two subranges: Akouker and Haïzer. The highest point in the Djurdjura mountain range is the Lalla Khedidja, which stands at 2,308 meters.
The park also features broken tectonics. There are gorges and grottoes that have become famous attractions. There are also forests that are home to the endangered Barbary macaque. There are so many things to see and do in the park. Tourists can hike the peaks or ride a bike on the road network within the park.
4. Gouraya National Park
This is a coastal park located in the Bejaïa Province. The park was established in 1985 and features turquoise waters, forested coastal areas, and a cliff. The area has been designated as a UNESCO biosphere reserve. The Gouraya Mountain, which stands at 660 meters, is within the periphery of the park. This provides a different landscape and hosts a good variety of fauna. The park also has its own lake in the Lake Mèzaïa.
The beaches and cliffs within the park are already favorites among locals, but tourists will definitely enjoy visiting this park as well. Incidentally, the park also provides more activities like wildlife watching because the park certainly has an exciting lineup of animals. Barbary macaques live in the forests. There are some jackals that roam the forests as well. Other endangered animals in the park are Algerian hedgehogs and wild cats. The marine part of the park is home to bottlenose and short-beaked common dolphins, harbor porpoises, and sperm whales.
The park is also known for its flora. Among them are tree spurges and prickly junipers. The following species of flora are also abundant in the park: Asplenietea rupestris, Crithmo-limonielea, Quercetea ilicis, and Querco-Fagetea.
5. Tlemcen National Park
Established in 1993, the park is located in Tlemcen Province, from which the park got its name. The park is known for its lush forests, refreshing forests, and cultural important archeological sites. The forests in the park are Aïn Fezza, Ifri, and Zariffet. There are also the El Awrit cliffs that are imposing and are great places to actually have a panoramic vista of the entire park. There are also a number of really cool waterfalls within the territory.
The park also has a number of archeological sites including the Mansourah Mosque ruins. The ruins date back to the Marinid Sultanate between 1244 and 1465. There is a lot of history related to the area, which was built by Sultan Abu Yakub in 1303. The park also hosts the Sidi Boumediene Mosque, which is a historic religious complex for Islam. The structure was built in honor of Sufi saint Abu Madyan, which supposedly spread the Sufism to the Maghreb region.