Relief and minerals of Algeria. Algeria

Most of it is located in extremely hot and arid climatic conditions. In this article, we will talk in detail about the climate, relief features and minerals of the country.

Algiers: general geographical information

The Algerian People's Democratic Republic is one of the countries of North Africa with a wide outlet to the Mediterranean Sea (the length of the coastline is almost 1000 km). The total area of ​​Algeria is 2.38 million square meters. km. Thus, it is the largest state on the continent.

More than 80% of the area of ​​Algeria is occupied by the largest desert on the planet - the Sahara. Therefore, it is not surprising that the vast majority of the inhabitants of this country (at least 90%) are concentrated on a narrow strip of the sea coast.

The climate in most of Algeria is tropical desert (in the far north - maritime subtropical). Summer in this country is very hot and dry. In the Sahara, the air temperature can warm up to +50 degrees during the day. The average annual rainfall varies from 20 mm in the desert to 1200 mm in the mountains. Small rivers with a constant flow are only in the north of the country. They originate in the Atlas Mountains and carry their waters to the Mediterranean Sea.

Relief and minerals of Algeria (briefly)

As mentioned above, 4/5 of the territory of Algeria is occupied by the Sahara desert. Here it is not homogeneous and consists of separate massifs - stony and sandy. In the southeastern part of the Algerian Sahara, an elevated region stands out - the Ahaggar Highlands. This is nothing more than the emergence of the ancient foundation of the Sahara platform, whose age is estimated by geologists at 2 billion years. From almost all sides, the highlands are surrounded by rocky plateaus, which bring some variety to the rather “boring” Saharan landscape (Tanezruft, Tademait, Tassilin-Adjer and others).

In the north of the country, two ridges of the Atlas Mountains stretched parallel to each other along the coast - the Saharan Atlas and the Tel Atlas. Between them are raised structures - High Plateaus. The Atlas is a geological structure of Alpine age. In other words, these mountains are still forming today. Therefore, these areas are characterized by frequent earthquakes, from which many residents of Algeria suffer.

The relief and minerals, as is known, are closely connected with the tectonic and geological structure of the territory. In geological terms, the territory of the country is clearly divided into two regions - the platform Sahara (in the south and in the center) and the folded Atlas (in the far north). Deposits of fuel resources are confined to the first, and deposits of ore minerals and construction raw materials are confined to the second.

Are there many minerals in Algeria? In the bowels of this country lie oil and gas, ores of ferrous and non-ferrous metals, as well as a variety of building materials.

Atlas Mountains

The name of the mountain system, as you probably already guessed, comes from the name of a mythological character holding the vault of heaven on his mighty shoulders. Apparently, the ancient Greeks, admiring these high and rocky ridges, really thought that they "propped up the sky." A similar identification, by the way, is found in Ovid and Herodotus.

Atlas is the largest mountain system in Africa. It stretches through three states - Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. The total length is over 2000 km. Within Algeria, the mountain system is represented by two parallel ranges (Saharan Atlas and Tel Atlas). The plateaus located between them are dissected by deep gorges. By the way, it is in the mountains and foothills of the Atlas that the richest deposits of phosphorites are concentrated - one of the key minerals of Algeria.

It is curious that the highest point of Algeria is not at all in the Atlas mountains, but within the Ahaggar highlands.

Ahaggar Highlands

Ahaggar is a highland in the southeastern part of Algeria. It covers an area of ​​50 thousand square kilometers and consists mainly of volcanic rocks. The climate in the highlands is the driest in the entire Sahara. In summer it is extremely hot here, but in winter the air temperature can drop below zero. Within the highlands is the national park of the same name.

The indigenous people of the Ahaggar Highlands are the Tuareg (a people from the Berber group). For two centuries (from 1750 to 1977) they even had their own state - Kel-Ahaggar. At the end of the twentieth century, it became part of Algeria.

Tassilin-Adjer Plateau

This plateau is located south of the Ahaggar highlands, near the border with Niger. Its diameter is about 500 km, the highest point is Mount Azao (2158 meters). The plateau is composed of sandstones, in the thickness of which, as a result of erosion processes, stone pillars, arches and other objects of bizarre shapes were formed. The name "Tassilin-Adjer" literally translates as "plateau of rivers". Once upon a time, the massif was indeed covered with a dense network of watercourses. But then the climate changed, and only dried up channels remained from them, in which water appears extremely rarely.

Numerous petroglyphs have been discovered on this plateau. Some of them scientists date back to the 7th millennium BC. These drawings show scenes of hunting wild animals. Moreover, animals (rhinos, antelopes, buffaloes) are depicted incredibly realistically. Thanks to these findings, part of the territory of the Tassilin-Adjer plateau was included in 1982 on the UNESCO Protected List.

The highest and lowest points of Algeria

The highest point of the country is in the Ahaggar Highlands. This is Mount Tahat with a height of 3003 meters (according to other sources - 2918 m). The summit was first conquered by Swiss climber Edward Wyss-Dunant back in the 30s of the last century. By the way, ancient rock paintings dating back to the period between the eighth and second millennium BC were also found at the foot of the mountain.

The lowest point in Algiers is located in the north of the country. This is a salty and partially dry lake Melgir. The absolute height of this point ranges from 26 to 40 meters with a minus sign (depending on the water level in the lake). At maximum filling, the diameter of the reservoir reaches 130 kilometers. In summer, Melgir often dries up, turning into a typical salt marsh.

Cave of Anu Ifflis

In the foothills of Tel Atlas is the vertical cave of Anu Ifflis, which is the deepest not only in Algeria, but throughout Africa. "Leopard's Cave" - ​​this is how its name is translated from French. The depth of the karst cavity reaches 1170 meters. The cave was discovered only in 1980 by a group of French and Spanish speleologists. To date, it has been little studied. At a depth of 200-500 meters, the walls of the cave are covered with thin veins of gold ores. This pattern is very reminiscent of a spotted leopard skin (hence the name of the cave).

Geography and structure of the country's mineral resources

Algeria occupies the first place in terms of total and explored mineral reserves in North Africa. The mineral resources of the country include fuel, ore and non-metallic resources. Among them are oil, natural gas, coal, iron and manganese ore, uranium, copper, phosphorites and others.

Mineral resources of Algeria are distributed over its territory rather unevenly. Their main deposits are concentrated in three regions. Significant reserves of iron ores, phosphorites and barites are concentrated in the mountains and foothills of the Atlas. The second region is a plateau in the western part of the country, where significant deposits of iron ore are located. Finally, in the south, the minerals of Algeria are represented by non-ferrous (including precious) metals. Diamond deposits have also been discovered within the Ahaggar Highlands.

Algeria's top ten minerals (by proven reserves) are as follows:

1. Barite (6700 thousand tons).
2. Natural gas (3950 billion cubic meters).
3. Oil (1900 million tons).
4. Iron ore (1535 million tons).
5. Zinc (890 thousand tons).
6. Lead (500 thousand tons).
7. Phosphorites (150 million tons).
8. Hard coal (66 million tons).
9. Copper (160 thousand tons).
10. Marble (24 million cubic meters).

The total reserves of gold and silver are estimated by geologists at 30 and 700 tons, respectively.

What minerals are being developed most actively in Algeria today? We will talk about this further.

Oil and gas

Among the minerals of Algeria, oil occupies a special place. How important it is for the Algerian economy is eloquently evidenced by one fact: 98% of the country's exports fall precisely on the hydrocarbon sector. The oil industry is the main driver of Algeria's economic growth. At the same time, huge foreign investments are pouring into the oil and gas industry of the state, which only creates prerequisites for a further increase in the production of “black gold”.

According to the Oil and Gas magazine for 2007, there are about 12 billion barrels of oil in the subsoil of Algeria, which brings it to the third position in Africa. Most of these reserves are contained in the Hassi Mesaud deposit. Algerian crude oil is considered one of the highest quality in the world. In particular, it complies with all stringent EU standards regarding the sulfur content of fuels.

In terms of natural gas reserves, Algeria ranks second in Africa (after Nigeria). The real "gas giant" is the Hassi-R'Melle field, which was discovered in the middle of the 20th century. It accounts for a quarter of the production of this fuel resource in the country. In total, there are 183 oil and gas fields in Algeria. Almost all of them are located in the northeastern part of the Sahara.

metal ores

Algeria ranks second among all African countries in terms of iron ore, mercury and antimony reserves, 4th in uranium and zinc reserves, and 1st in tungsten ore reserves. The iron ore found in the bowels of this country is not of such high quality (ferrum content is in the range of 40-55%). However, its deposits are very numerous.

The main reserves of polymetallic ores (lead and zinc) are concentrated in the north of Algeria. There are hydrothermal uranium deposits within the Ahaggar Highlands. Mercury deposits are also confined to thermal springs. The largest deposit of cinnabar in Algeria is Mra S'Ma.

There is also gold in the bowels of this North African country. The most valuable metal lies mainly in the south of Algeria, on Ahaggar.

Phosphorites and barites

Phosphorites are another mineral wealth of Algeria. In terms of its reserves, the country ranks 5th on the continent. Phosphorite deposits are located in the north of the country and are associated with carbonate and clay deposits of the Upper Cretaceous. The largest of them are Mzaita, El Kuif and Jebelyonk.

Algeria ranks second in Africa in terms of reserves of barite, a crystalline mineral that is widely used in the chemical, oil and paint industries. It also occurs in the northern part of the country. Thus, the total reserves of only one Algerian Mizab deposit are estimated at more than two million tons of barite.

In addition to all of the above, quite rich deposits of pyrites, celestine, and rock salt have been explored in Algeria. It is considered promising to study the Algerian subsoil in order to search for new deposits of copper, molybdenum, tungsten and manganese ores.

Finally

The largest country in Africa is extremely rich in mineral resources. The main minerals of Algeria are oil, gas, iron and zinc ores, phosphorites, barites, coal, marble. In terms of oil reserves, the state ranks third in Africa, second only to Nigeria and Libya.

The relief of Algeria is quite diverse. In the north of the country, the Atlas mountain ranges rise, the southern and central regions are occupied by highlands and plateaus. More than 80% of the territory of Algeria is covered with sandy and rocky massifs of the Sahara desert.

Algeria, Algerian People's Democratic Republic (arab. Al-Jumhuriya al-Jazairiya Democracy ash-Shaabiya; French. Republique Algerienne Democratique et Populaire), is a state in the Northern, in the western part. It borders in the west with and Western Sahara, in the southwest - with Mauritania and Mali, in the southeast - with, in the east - with and Tunisia. The area is 2382 thousand km 2. Population 20.1 million people (1981, est.). The capital is Algiers (El Jazair). Algeria is made up of 31 wilayas. The official language is Arabic. The monetary unit is the Algerian dinar. Algeria is a member of the League of Arab States, the Organization of African Unity, is a member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries ().

General characteristics of the economy. During the colonial period, the structure of the Algerian economy took shape under the influence of French monopoly capital. After gaining state independence (1962), the Algerian government set about transforming the colonial economy into a national one. Foreign landed property was expropriated, many industrial enterprises and the main modes of transport were nationalized. Self-governing farms and state enterprises have been created on this basis. In addition to the mining industry, Algeria has a well-developed metallurgical, metalworking, food processing, and textile industries; developing the chemical industry.

The structure of the country's GDP (1979%): agriculture, including forestry, hunting and fishing, 6.5; mining industry 28.2; processing 11.8; construction 13.4; trade 13.5; transport and communications 4.7; others 21.9. Electricity production in 1981 amounted to 7,700 million kWh. In the structure of the fuel and energy balance (1980), 54% falls on, 44% on gas, 2% on. The length of railways (1981) is about 3.9 thousand km, - about 92 thousand km, incl. paved about 47 thousand km. Developed . Maritime transport provides almost all foreign trade transportation. Total cargo turnover of seaports (1981) 60 million tons; the largest ports are Bejaia, Arzev, Algiers, Annaba, Oran.

Nature. Algeria occupies the central part of the Atlas Mountains and the Caxapa Desert (the central and southern parts of the country). In the south of the Sahara region, there are the desert highlands of Ahaggar (Hoggar) with the peak of Tahat (3005 m), in the north - a rocky plateau (height of about 500 m) and sandy deserts with high dune ridges (Big Erg, Erg-Igidi, Erg-Shesh, etc. .) and rocky deserts. Northern Algeria is occupied by the ridges of the Atlas mountain system, within which in the north there is a large ridge Tel Atlas (Varsenis, height up to 1995 m), massifs of Greater and Lesser Kabylia (up to 2308 m), in the south - the Saharan Atlas (Khodnya, Opec, up to 2328 m), between which there are intermontane plateaus and plains of the High Plateaus (800-1200 m).

The climate of Northern Algeria is subtropical Mediterranean, the average January temperature is over 5-12 ° C, July 25 ° C, the amount of precipitation in the mountains is 1200 mm per year (Kabylia), 400-800 mm in Tel Atlas, 200-400 mm on the intermountain plains. The climate of the Sahara region is tropical desert, daily temperature fluctuations up to 30 ° C, precipitation less than 50 mm per year. All the rivers of Algeria belong to the type of oueds (temporary streams). The vegetation is mostly desert and semi-desert, with cork oak forests in the mountains.

In the cover of the Saharan Plate, syneclises (Tindouf, Western and Eastern Sahara), separated by uplifts, and the Ugart zone, which is, which appeared at the end of the Carboniferous, stand out. Ores, rare metals and in Ahaggar are associated with volcanics and granites of the Riphean - Vendian. In the Tindouf syneclise, among the Paleozoic clayey-sandy deposits of the platform cover, the largest deposits of uranium are localized, in the south of Ahaggar - promising deposits of uranium. The anticlines in the sediments of the cover on the northern dip of the Ahaggar host unique deposits of oil (Hassi-Mesaud) and gas (Hassi-Rmel).

In the folded Atlas region, gypsum-saline clays and red-colored clastic rocks of the Triassic are developed, overlain by marine terrigenous-carbonate deposits and carbonate-terrigenous (Jurassic, Cretaceous, Paleogene). In the north, the Neogene is represented by marine volcanic-sedimentary, clayey-carbonate deposits, and in the south, by continental deposits.

In Tel Atlas, Mesozoic-Cenozoic folded rocks (up to and including the Middle Miocene) form a series of tectonic covers displaced from north to south (). In the coastal zone, granitoids of the Neogene are also slightly developed, in the massifs of Greater and Lesser Kabylia - metamorphic rocks and Paleozoic, which protrude to the surface. To the south of Tel Atlas is the platform block of the High Plateaus (Oran meseta), where the folded Hercynian is overlapped by a thin, slightly deformed Mesozoic -. Terrigenous and volcanic-shale rocks of the Paleozoic are exposed, crumpled and intruded by Hercynian granitoids. To the south of the High Plateaus is the moderately folded zone of the Saharan Atlas, formed on the site of the Mesozoic trough. In general, near-latitudinal folds and faults of eastern and northeastern (or "Atlas") strikes prevail in the Atlas region, as well as submeridional "Red Sea" folds superimposed in the northern part of Algeria on the Tel-Atlas sharias. Longitudinal and transverse faults determine the placement of volcanites, evaporite and the most important ore-bearing zones with deposits of ferrous and non-ferrous metals in the Atlas region. In Northern Algeria, deposits of iron ores and various types of non-metallic raw materials are associated with Mesozoic-Cenozoic rocks.

The territory of Algeria is characterized by high, which is associated with movement along faults and charyazhs in various zones of Northern Algeria. The most seismic is Tel Atlas (6-7 points), within its limits are coastal zones (Tenes-Shershel, Oran-Mostaganem and Shelf).

Minerals. In Algeria, deposits of oil, natural gas, coal, ores of uranium, iron, manganese, copper, lead, zinc, mercury, antimony, gold, tin, tungsten, as well as, etc., have been discovered and explored (Table 1).

In terms of oil reserves, Algeria ranks third in Africa. On the territory of Algeria, 183 and are known, confined to the Algerian-Libyan; most of the deposits are located in the northeast of the Sahara region. The largest oil field is localized in the sandstones of the Cambrian-Ordovician. The Zarzaitin, Hassi-Tuil, Hassi-el-Agreb, Tin-Fue, Gourd-el-Bagel and other fields have significant reserves. Algeria ranks first in Africa in terms of gas reserves. The largest gas field occurs in the sandstones of the Triassic; Significant gas reserves have been explored at the Gurd-Hyc, Nezla, Oued-Numer and other fields.

The reserves of coal are insignificant, its deposits (Kenadza, Abadla, Mezarif) are concentrated in the deposits of the Upper Carboniferous in the Bechar basin. Coals are fat, caking, medium ash (8-20%), contain 20-35% volatile impurities and 2-3.5% sulfur.

In terms of uranium ore reserves, Algeria ranks 4th in Africa. The hydrothermal-vein deposits of uranium ores Timgauin, Tinef and Abankor have been explored in Ahaggar (proved reserves are 12 thousand tons, the content of U 3 O 8 is 20%); in the south of the shield, uranium manifestations are known in Paleozoic sandstones (Tahaggart).

In terms of iron ore reserves, Algeria is in 2nd place in Africa. In northern Algeria, metasomatic iron ore deposits have been explored in reef limestones of the Apt (Jebel-Uenza, Bou-Khadra), the total reserves of which are over 100 million tons, the Fe content is 40-56%. In the Tindouf syneclise, the largest Devonian sedimentary deposits of oolitic iron ores in Algeria, Gara-Jebilet (total reserves of 2 billion tons, Fe content 50-57%) and Mesheri-Abdelaziz (2 billion tons, 50-55%), were revealed. The reserves of manganese ores are insignificant, they are confined to the volcanogenic-hydrothermal deposit of Oued-Gettara (total reserves 1.5 million tons, Fe content 40-50%) in the Bechar region.

In terms of lead and zinc ores, Algeria ranks second in Africa. In Northern Algeria, vein (telethermal) and lenticular vein (hydrothermal) deposits of polymetallic ores are developed. Stratiform deposits of lead and zinc ores are located in carbonate deposits of the Jurassic (El-Abed, Deglen), Cretaceous (Kerzet-Yusef, Meslulla, Jebel-Ishmul), veins in sandy-argillaceous rocks of the Cretaceous (Gerruma, Sakamody) are associated with diapirs of Triassic evaporites. Volcanic and plutonogenic-hydrothermal copper-polymetallic deposits in Cretaceous-Neogene rocks are associated with Miocene volcanic rocks (Bu-Sufa, Oued-el-Kebir) and granitoids (Bu-Duka, Ashish, Ain-Barbar, Kef-um-Tebul). Ore occurrences of cuprous sandstones are known in the Cretaceous and Triassic deposits (Ain Sefra, in the west of the Saharan Atlas), Cambrian (Ben-Tajik in Ugart) and Vendian (Khank south of Regibat).

Algeria ranks first in Africa in terms of mercury reserves (about 4% of global reserves). The deposits were discovered in the Azzaba area among the terrigenous-clastic rocks of the Cretaceous - Paleogene and in the Precambrian shales (Genish deposits - total reserves in terms of metal 4.5 thousand tons, Hg content 1.16%; Mpa-Cma, respectively, 7.7 thousand tons, 3.9%; Ismail - worked out). In terms of ore reserves, Algeria ranks second in Africa; they are concentrated in northern Algeria at the Hammam-Nbails telethermal deposit. In terms of reserves of tungsten ores, Algeria ranks first in Africa. In Ahaggar, quartz-cassiterite-wolframite greisen-vein bodies of Nahda (Launi), Tin-Amzi, ​​El-Kapycca, Bashir, Tiftazunin, etc., associated with Taurirt granites, have been explored. In northern Algeria, the Belelietta skarn-scheelite deposit is known.

The most significant gold vein deposits—Tiririn, Tirek, Amesmessa, Tin-Felki, and others—are explored in the Precambrian crystalline rocks of Ahaggar; exploration and prospecting for gold continues.

The Bou-Duau deposit has been discovered in northern Algeria.

In terms of phosphorite reserves, Algeria is in 5th place in Africa. In Northern Algeria, deposits of granular phosphorites are associated with clay-carbonate deposits of the Upper Cretaceous - Paleogene. The largest deposits are Dzhebelyonk, El-Kuif, Mzaita (see Arabian-African phosphorite-bearing province).

In terms of reserves, Algeria ranks 2nd in Africa. In northern Algeria, the vein deposits of Mizab (total reserves of 2.15 million tons, BaSO 4 content of 90%), Affensu, Bu-Mani, Varsenis and Sidi Kamber were discovered, in the Bechar region - vein fields of Bu-Kais, Abadla, etc. Of the other minerals in Algeria, the large Beni-Mansur deposit (Northern Algeria) has been explored, the total reserves of which are 6.1 million tons; deposits are known (reserves are small), culinary, etc.

History of development of mineral resources. The oldest evidence of the use of stone for the manufacture of tools was found in Ternifin and dates back to the Lower Paleolithic (about 700 thousand years ago). From the Neolithic era, the extraction of clays for the manufacture of ceramic dishes began (5-4th millennium BC), from the 2nd millennium BC. - stone for the construction of large burial structures - dolmens. Information about the developed mining and metallurgical production in the Middle Ages is given in the works of Arab scientists and travelers al-Yakubi (9th century), al-Bakri (11th century), al-Qazvini (13th century), etc. The main mining centers were concentrated in the north - iron ore mines "Nemours" and "Beni-Saf" near the city of Arzev (Western Algeria), as well as near the cities. Setif, Annaba, Bejaia; copper ore in the mountains of Jebel Ketama. In the department of Constantine (near Majana, Eastern Algeria), there are also mentions of the development of deposits of silver, lead ores, building stone (not later than the 16th century). Mercury ore was mined near the city of Arzev. In the 10th century, salt mines were located on the hill of Jebel el-Melh ("Mountain of Salt").

After the colonization of Algeria (1830), intensive searches began in the country. Industrial exploitation of iron ore deposits (Ain Mokra, Beni Saf, Jebel Wenza, Mokti el Hadid) has been carried out since the 50-60s. 19th century, at the same time, intensive development of deposits was carried out, and (Muzaya, Oued-Merja, Tizi-Ntaga), phosphorites (since 1893). In 1907, the main coal deposit of Algeria, Kenadza, was discovered, the maximum production from which was carried out during the years of World War II (1939-45).

Mining. General characteristics. The leading branch of the mining industry is oil and gas production (more than 90% of the value of all mining products); provides most of the foreign exchange earnings. In 1981, oil and gas accounted for 96% of the value of the country's exports, which amounted to 62 billion Algerian dinars. In the mining industry, the public sector plays a leading role. In the oil and gas industry, the state company "Société Nationale pour la Recherche, la Production, le Transport, la Transformation et la Commercialization des Hydrocarbures" ("SONATRACH") holds a monopoly position. Oil and gas reserves and production, all main oil and gas pipelines, gas liquefaction and oil refining plants have been taken under the control of the company. The total number of personnel employed in the oil and gas industry is about 36 thousand people (1980). The Algerian government promotes the development of the oil and gas industry by merging with foreign capital (up to 49%) while maintaining 51% of the shares in SONATRACH. The company conducts production, as well as for oil and gas, in the Sahara together with the French companies "Total", "Compagnie Française de Pétrole", "Compagnie de Recherches et d" Activités Pétrolières", US companies ("Getty Oil Co."), Spain (Hispanoil), Germany (Deminex), Poland (Copex) and Brazil (Petrobras). consumption and export of all solid minerals (total number of employees about 14 thousand people, 1980). The company includes 30 mines and quarries, explores in Northern Algeria and the Sahara. Algeria is one of the leading producers of mercury (Table 2).

Mining of ores of iron and non-ferrous metals is insignificant (See map.).

Oil industry. For the first time in the country, exploration work for oil began in the northern regions in 1875, and production on a small scale began in 1913. The discovery in 1956 of large oil fields in the Sahara region served as the basis for the rapid development of the oil industry (commercial production began in 1958). This was also facilitated by the commissioning in 1960 of Hassi-Messaoud-Bejaia and Edjele-Sekhira (Tunisia) with a throughput capacity of 14 million tons per year each. The Algerian oil industry was partially nationalized in 1971. SONATRACH controls 77% of oil production (1981). In 1981, in terms of this indicator, Algeria ranked 14th among industrialized capitalist and developing countries and 3rd among African countries (after Libya and Nigeria).

The main production areas are the oil fields of Haud-Berkawi, Hassi-Mesaud, El-Hassi, Hassi-el-Agreb, Gourd-el-Baghel. Products also come from the oil and gas fields of Hassi-Tuil, Gurd-Hyc, Nezla. In 1981, the number of operating oil wells was 1050. The oil is light, low-sulfur. Most of the raw materials (up to 70%) Algeria exports (mainly to Western Europe). The most important shipping ports are Arzev and Skikda. Large oil pipelines: Assakai-faf - Sehira (Tunisia), Hassi-Messaoud - Bejaia, Hassi-Messaoud - Arzev, Mesdar - Skikda, etc. The total length of all oil pipelines is over 4.5 thousand km (1980).

The capacities of Algeria's oil refining industry are designed to meet the needs of the domestic market. In the early 80s. in Algeria, there was a total annual production capacity of 21 million tons. The country took a course towards saving its own oil resources and their rational use (in 1979, production decreased by 10%, in 1980 - by 15%); By 1990, a partial replacement of oil exports by exports of petroleum products is also expected. Search and exploration work is being activated. In 1980-1981, about 20 agreements were concluded with foreign companies (,). In 1980, 249 were drilled (76 produced oil, 96 gas).

Gas industry. Natural gas production in the country began in the 1960s. 20 century and is growing at a high rate (in 1971-80, an average of 14% per year). In 1980, Algeria ranked first among the developing countries in terms of commercial production. The industry of Algeria is characterized by an export orientation. About 30% of produced gas is exported. More than 1/3 of the produced gas is supplied to the foreign market. Importers - France, Spain, USA. The dynamic development of the industry is explained by the presence of large reserves of raw materials, the proximity of such a capacious gas market as Western Europe. Algeria's gas industry was nationalized in 1971. The vast majority of gas production, transportation, and marketing is accounted for by the SONATRACH company, which directs the bulk of its capital investments to the development of the gas industry. The largest field under development is Khassi-Rmel.

To the south-east of it there are several oil and gas fields, the most important of which are Alrar, Gurd-Hyc, Nezla, etc. To the south-west of Hassi-Rmel there is a group of smaller gas fields. The development of deposits in these areas is expected to begin after the construction of gas pipelines to the Khassi-Rmel field.

Most of the gas is obtained from oil fields. In 1978, the share of associated gas in the total volume of gross production (32.5 billion m 3 ) was 57%. Due to the lack of necessary transport systems, this type of raw material is flared (38% of total production in 1978) or injected into oil reservoirs (20%). Algeria is the 3rd largest exporter of liquefied natural gas in the world. There are four enterprises in the country: three in Arzev with a total annual capacity of 22 billion m 3 and one in Skikda with a capacity of 9 billion m 3 .

The produced gas is pumped through the main gas pipelines Hassi-Rmel - Arzev (two lines with a total capacity of 3.8 billion m 3 per year) and Hassi-Rmel - Skikda (13.5 billion m 3 per year) to seaports for the purpose of further supplies to the foreign market. There is also an extensive gas distribution network for supplying gas to consumption centers. The total length of the gas pipeline network in Algeria is about 4,000 km. In 1981, the construction of the Algiers-Italy Trans-Mediterranean gas pipeline (2,500 km) was completed, which runs through the territory of Tunisia, through the Strait of Sicily, Sicily, and the Strait of Messina to the southern regions of Italy. The capacity of the gas pipeline is 12 billion m 3 per year; it is possible to increase it (due to the construction of additional compressor stations) up to 18 billion m 3 . A project is being developed for the construction of the Trans-Mediterranean gas pipeline Algeria-Spain through the Strait of Gibraltar with a throughput capacity of up to 40 billion cubic meters per year.

Mining and chemical industry. The basis of the raw material base of the mining and chemical industry of Algeria is the reserves of phosphorites. The development of mining of this mineral in Algeria was hindered by the fact that in the region it is much inferior in quality to Moroccan and Tunisian phosphorites. In terms of phosphorite mining, Algeria ranks 10th among the industrially developed capitalist and developing countries (1980), giving about 1.5% of their total production. The extraction of minerals is mainly concentrated in the Jebel-Onk open pit with a production capacity of 3.6 million tons of ore per year. The reserves within the quarry field exceed 200 million tons. The main mining equipment is draglines. The mined ore undergoes primary processing. Due to the content of organic impurities and carbonates in it, it is enriched by calcination in a fluidized bed at a temperature of 900°C. The bulk of the phosphorites mined in Algeria is exported, mainly to the countries of Western Europe. A significant expansion of the production of phosphate fertilizers from domestic raw materials is expected. In this regard, Algeria signed contracts with the Polymex Cekop company (Poland) and the Marubeni Hitachi consortium (Japan) for the construction of fertilizer plants in the cities. Annaba and Telessa. By 1990, the volume of output is expected to be increased to 3.65 million tons.

Algeria has quite large resources of barium raw materials. At the same time, the size of the extraction of minerals in the country is small - about 1.5% of the industrially developed capitalist and developing countries. Some growth in production has been noted since the early 1970s. and is associated mainly with the needs of the oil and gas industries. The development of barite deposits (predominantly veined) is mainly concentrated in the area of ​​the cities. Ain Mimoun, Sidi Kamber, Mokla. It is carried out both open and underground. Flotation is used to enrich the ore. It is planned to increase the annual production of barite to 150 thousand tons. Pyrite deposits are being developed in small volumes in the country (not more than 20 thousand tons per year, in terms of sulfur).

Iron ore mining. On the territory of Algeria, the development of iron ores is carried out by open and underground methods at the deposits of Jebel-Ouenza, Bou-Khadra, Khanget, Beni-Saf. The largest deposit and promising mining area is Gara-Jebilet in the south-west of the country. Mining is carried out by the open method of the state company Société Nationale de Recherches et d "Exploitations Minières" ("SONAREM") with the involvement of Moroccan capital and amounts to 4.2 million tons of ore per year (1979). The development system is transport. Iron ore serves as a raw material for El-Hajar metallurgical plant, near the port of Annaba.To export the mined ore, the construction of a 1,100 km long railway to the Algerian coast of the Mediterranean Sea is planned, where it is planned to create (in the early 90s) a large metallurgical plant (in La Macra, between Arzev and Mostaganem).

Mercury mining. Algeria is one of the leading producers of mercury. It accounts for about 1/4 of the total extraction of mercury ores in industrialized capitalist and developing countries. Mining since 1971 has been carried out by the company "Mercure d" Ismail "in an open way in the Azzaba area. A metallurgical plant for the processing of ores also operates here. Geological exploration for mercury ores is carried out by" SONAREM ".

Other minerals. In a small amount, ores of lead, zinc, copper, silver, marble, rock salt and other minerals are mined in Algeria. Copper concentrates are obtained from raw materials from the Ain Barbar deposit; after the commissioning of new mines (Bu-Duka, Kef-um-Tebul, Bu-Sufa), the extraction of copper ore can be tripled. By 1985, the extraction of zinc ores should increase to 38 thousand tons (in terms of metal), by 1990 to 45 thousand tons, the extraction of lead ores, respectively, to 19.2 thousand and 27.2 thousand tons. Nahda (Launi), gold (Tiririn, Tirek, etc.) and uranium (Timgauin, Abankor).

Mining and Geological Service. Personnel training. Seal. Mining and geological work in Algeria is headed by the Directorate of Mines and Geology in the system of the Ministry of Heavy Industry, which includes departments: mining, exploration, laboratory research and services. The latter manages work on problematic, geological mapping, publishes geological maps and collections of papers. Geological research is carried out at the Institute of Petroleum (centers - in the cities of Algiers, Hassi-Messaoud and Oran).

Personnel training is carried out at the University (Algiers), the African Center for Hydrocarbons and Textile Industry (Boumerdes), the Polytechnic School (El-Harrash) and the Technical Mining School (Miliana).

The main publications on geology are placed in the journals: "Bulletin du Service de la Carte Géologique de l" Algérie" (since 1902); "Bulletin ésonomique et juridique Alger" (since 1937).

Give a description of the country according to the plan, show the economic activity of the population.

Develop the ability to establish cause and effect relationships.

To cultivate a humanistic attitude towards the peoples of the world.

Lesson objectives:

• Improve the ability to work with atlas maps, textbook text, make tables.
• To ensure the development of abilities for evaluative actions, to express judgments.
• Develop the ability to work in a team; develop mutual assistance.

Equipment : physical map of the world, political map of Africa, illustrations, tables, educational pictures, textbook, notebook, workbook, atlas, universal encyclopedia for youth (countries and peoples), geographical atlas of the world, multimedia technologies (technical equipment).

Forms of work : group with elements of a role-playing game.

Lesson type : for didactic purposes - the study of new material; on teaching methods - role-playing game.

Lesson plan:

1. Organization of the lesson.

2. Actualization of students' knowledge. Statement of educational tasks. Exploring a new topic.

3. The work of students in groups. Results of work in tables. Student responses.

4. The result of the lesson. Evaluation of student responses. Achievement of the goal.

5. The practical part of the lesson.

Completing the task in the workbooks on page 43.

6. Homework.

The course and content of the lesson.

1. Stage - organizational.

Greetings. Ready for the lesson. Mark absentees in the journal.

2. Stage - updating the knowledge of students.

Teacher. We continue to study the mainland Africa. Africa is the ancestral home of man. The most ancient remains of human ancestors and tools of his labor were found in rocks that are 27 million years old. Guys, let's update our knowledge.

Question #1 What are the geographic coordinates of a point on the earth's surface?

Answer: Latitude and longitude are geographic coordinates of a point on the earth's surface.

Question number 2 Define the concept of "geographical location".

Answer: The geographical position is the position of any point or object on the earth's surface in relation to other points or territories.

Question number 3 In what climatic zones is mainland Africa?

Answer: Africa is located in the equatorial, subequatorial, tropical and subtropical climatic zones.

Question number 4 Name the largest countries in terms of area.

Answer: Russia, China, Brazil, USA, Canada.

Teacher: According to natural conditions, the composition of the population, Africa can be divided into four parts: North, West and Central, East and South.

Lesson topic: “Countries of North Africa. Algeria".

The purpose of the lesson : characterize the country according to the plan, show the economic activity of the population. (students write the date, the topic of the lesson in their notebooks).

3. Stage - a group form of work.

Teacher: Guys, today we work in groups. To compile the characteristics of the country, a standard plan is used (textbook - p. 313).

The template is displayed on the screen. (Attachment 1)

The questions of the plan are reflected in the tables presented to each member of the group. Groups have three questions, including evaluation sheets (Appendix 2), the organizer is determined, who distributes questions, listens, evaluates answers.

You work with atlas maps, which provide 80% of the information, with the text of the §31 textbook and additional literature. The results of the work are entered in the table.

The fourth group will prepare additional information about Algeria.

Groups begin to work, the time allotted for the tasks is 10 minutes.

Upon completion of the work, the groups give a description of the country according to the plan.

(In the course of characterization, each of the groups enters the results of the other group into the table).

Description of the country according to the plan.

1. What maps should be used when describing a country?

The physical map of Africa, the climatic map of Africa, the map of the natural zones of Africa, the political map of Africa.

2. In what part of the mainland is the country located? What is the name of its capital?

Algiers is located in northwestern Africa. This is one of the major developing states of the mainland, freed from colonial dependence.

The capital of the country is Algeria, geographic coordinates are 37 degrees north latitude. and 3 degrees east

3. Features of the relief (general nature of the surface, the main forms of relief and the distribution of heights). Minerals.

Due to the large extent from north to south, in Algeria, Northern Algeria and the Algerian Sahara are distinguished.

The Atlas Mountains amaze with their beauty. The ridges, rising up, end with sharp peaks with sheer cliffs.

Two main mountain ranges stretch along the coast - the Tell Atlas and the Saharan Atlas.

The highest peak - Shelia(2328 m) in the Ores mountains. Most of the southern part of the country is an elevated plain, while highlands rise in the east Ahaggar. Most of the surface of the Algerian Sahara is rocky; and sands are found only in some areas. The bowels of Algeria contain large reserves of fuel minerals – oil and gas, ore - iron and polymetallic, chemical - phosphorites.

Cast iron and steel are smelted from iron ores, non-ferrous metals are smelted from polymetallic ores, mineral fertilizers are smelted from phosphorites.

4. Climatic conditions in different parts of the country(climatic zones, average temperatures in July and January, annual precipitation). Differences by territory and by seasons.

Climatic zones - subtropical, tropical. The climate of the coast is subtropical, Mediterranean.

The subtropical climate is characterized by dry, hot summers and warm, wet winters.

Northern part of Algeria: average temperature: January +8 degrees C, July +32 degrees C, average annual precipitation in millimeters -100-1000.

Southern part of Algeria: average temperature: January +16 degrees C, July +32 degrees C, the average annual rainfall is less than 100 mm. The reasons are the geographical latitude, the influence of the oceans and seas, the relief features, the prevailing air masses.

5. Large rivers and lakes.

There is almost no surface water here and only one river flows - Shelf.

In the Algerian Sahara, large reserves of groundwater are concentrated. Sometimes they come to the surface in the form of springs.

6. Natural areas and their main features.

Northern Algeria occupies a zone of hard-leaved evergreen forests and shrubs, which includes the northern part of the Atlas Mountains and the adjacent coastal plain.

In this zone there is a lot of heat and sufficient moisture. Therefore, the natural conditions of this part of Northern Algeria are most favorable for human life and agriculture.

The once diverse fauna of the country is now greatly impoverished; lions, leopards, ostriches, cormorants and some other animals and birds have been rapaciously exterminated. Monkeys, hares, jackals, hyenas have been preserved in Algeria. There are many migratory birds on the lakes. Numerous reptiles: snakes, lizards, monitor lizards.

7. The peoples inhabiting the country. Their main activities.

Indigenous The population of the country is Algerians, consisting of Arabs and Berbers. The nomadic population of the Algerian Sahara is represented by tribes Tuareg. They inhabit the harshest parts of the desert and the Ahaggar Highlands. Rectangular dwellings are being built in rural areas. They have flat roofs and flat courtyards. Walls without windows face the street.

Algerians are mainly engaged in animal husbandry - they breed sheep, goats and camels. Farming is possible only in the oases, where the Algerians grow date palms, and under their crown - fruit trees and crops.

Pottery is represented by the manufacture of carpets, woolen and silk fabrics, as well as the processing of alpha grass, from which mats, baskets and ropes are woven.

The fourth group gives additional information about Algeria.

4. Stage of the lesson - summing up.

Final questions:

1. How do you think, what is the significance of access to the Mediterranean Sea for Algeria?
2. What are the features of the nature of Algeria?
3. Which places in Algeria would you like to travel to and why?

Algeria is an agricultural and industrial country. One of the largest countries in North Africa. It ranks first in natural gas reserves, mercury and tungsten ores and third in oil reserves.

All types of land transport, as well as air and sea, operate in the country. Algeria is the main exporter of oil and natural gas to Europe, which contributes to the country's entry into the world economic level.

(The use of multimedia technologies, fragments of the natural features of the country are shown on the screen).

Evaluation of student responses.

5. Stage of the lesson - the practical part of the lesson.

Students completing assignments in workbooks on page 43.

1. In contour maps, sign the name of the country Algeria, its capital.
2. Sign the names of the countries with which Algeria borders.

(Grading in the diaries).

6. Homework: § 31, questions after § 31.

THANKS FOR THE LESSON, FOR COOPERATION.

So far, this country cannot compete on equal terms with neighboring Morocco or Egypt in terms of the number of tourists coming to rest. This is due to a number of objective reasons, including the national characteristics of Algeria.

In ethnic terms, the majority of the country's inhabitants are Arabs, 16% are Berbers, and less than 1% are the rest. The dominant religion is Muslim, which affects the relative closeness of the country and a cautious attitude towards tourists. Those, in turn, should also be aware of the peculiarities of staying in Algeria and local rules of conduct.

In the best traditions

Any tourist who comes to Algeria notes the zealous attitude of local residents to traditions and ancient rituals. Many Algerians are still afraid of cameras, forbid taking pictures of themselves and their spouses.

Women, in general, are forbidden to photograph, the villagers also ask not to take pictures (or digital) of living creatures, as they believe that this can cause diseases and harm the state of mind.

Algerian Ramadan

Since the dominant religion is Islam, everything is subject to the Koran and its laws. The main holiday of the locals is Ramadan, which lasts for a month considered sacred.

Algerians carefully prepare for it, keep fasting. They eat only late in the evening, and there are a lot of sweets on the table, which help maintain health and strength during fasting.

Influence of Islam

The Muslim religion in Algeria is reflected in all sections of secular and spiritual life. Many architectural objects, monuments of Algerian history and culture, are made in accordance with the requirements of Islam. Many of them are protected by the state and are included in the lists of monuments under the protection of UNESCO.

The most famous of the sights are the city of Tipaza, located on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, and the ancient graying of Timgad with preserved baths, an amphitheater and the Arc de Triomphe.

Ancient cemeteries are part of Algerian culture

For the citizens of Algeria, the cemetery is the resting place of the dead, and for tourists it is rather a landmark, a certain exotic. They note the peculiar architectural design of certain monuments, the absence of names and dates of life of those who have gone to another world.

Lack of information is one of the national characteristics of local residents. But at some graves you can see fragments of clay pots - this is a tribute to tradition. According to her, at birth, the baby is given a beautiful clay pot. After the death of a person, the pot is broken and, as it were, buried next to the owner.