Jijel

Jijel
جيجل
City
Jijel
Motto(s): "From the people, for the people"

Location of Jijel in the Jijel Province
Jijel
Location of Jijel in Algeria
Coordinates: 36°49′N 05°45′E / 36.817°N 5.750°E / 36.817; 5.750Coordinates: 36°49′N 05°45′E / 36.817°N 5.750°E / 36.817; 5.750
Country  Algeria
Province Jijel Province
District Jijel District
APC 2012-2017
Government
 • Type Municipality
 • Mayor Yazid Abdellah
Area
 • Total 62.38 km2 (24.09 sq mi)
Elevation 10 m (30 ft)
Population (2008 census)
 • Total 131,513
 • Density 2,100/km2 (5,500/sq mi)
Time zone UTC+1 (CET)
Postal code 18000
ISO 3166 code CP
Website www.jijel-dz.org
Ra's Afia Lighthouse
Grand Phare de Jijel
R'as Afia Lighthouse
Algeria
Location Jijel
Algeria
Coordinates 36°49′4.22″N 5°41′21.49″E / 36.8178389°N 5.6893028°E / 36.8178389; 5.6893028
Year first constructed 1907<[1]
Foundation stone base
Construction masonry tower
Tower shape octagonal tower with balcony and lantern attached to the front 2-storey keeper’s house
Markings / pattern white tower, red lantern
Height 16.8 metres (55 ft)[1]
Focal height 45.2 metres (148 ft)[1]
Light source main power
Intensity 1,000 W[1]
Range 21 nautical miles (39 km; 24 mi)[1]
Characteristic Fl R 5s.[2]
Admiralty number E6558
NGA number 22308
ARLHS number ALG-029[3]
Managing agent Office Nationale de Signalisation Maritime

Jijel (Arabic: جيجل‎, formerly known as Ighil Gili or Djidjelli) is the capital of Jijel Province in north-eastern Algeria. It is flanked by the Mediterranean Sea in the region of Corniche Jijelienne, and has a 2008 census population of 131,513 inhabitants.

Jijel is the administrative and trade centre for a region specializing in cork processing, leather tanning and steelmaking. Local crops include citrus and grain. Fishing is also of great importance. Tourists (mainly Algerians) are attracted to Jijel for its landscapes and fine sand beaches. Being a resort town, there are many hotels and restaurants. There are Phoenician tombs nearby.

Geography and ecology

Jijel is situated 30 km from Taza National Park; this national park and other vicinity features support a variety of flora and fauna. In particular, the Taza National Park is habitat for the endangered Barbary macaque, Macaca sylvanus; moreover, this primate prehistorically had a much broader distribution than at present.[4]

History

Jijel (Igilgili), was first inhabited by Berbers tribes, the most prominent of which were the Kutama. Originally a Phoenician trading post,[5] the city passed successively for five centuries to the Romans with the name of Igilgili, then to the Vandals, the Byzantines, the Arabs, the Genoese and, in the 16th century, to the Ottoman Admiral Hayreddin Barbarossa.

In July 1664, the French took the city. Resistance was organized under the direction of Shaban Aga and the French were driven out in October of the same year. Jijel remained a Corsair stronghold until captured by the French in 1839. Strong local resistance, finally subdued in 1851, resulted in the construction of three forts along its southern fringe as well as minimal colonization. The original town was devastated by an earthquake in 1856.

The area is one of the last strongholds of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb in Algeria. Abdelmalek Droukdel is believed to be hiding in the mountains of this region.[6]

Communications

Due to the rugged landscape, Jijel is slightly isolated. However, it is connected by road to large cities like Bejaïa (90 km west), Setif (135 km southwest) and Constantine (150 km southeast). The city also has its own airport Jijel Ferhat Abbas Airport.

Infrastructure

Jijel is built along modern patterns with wide streets framed by trees. The surroundings consist largely of dense cork-oak forest. A peninsula lies right out from the coast and there is a citadel to the north. There is a hospital, previously a Catholic church (which was demolished), mosques and University of Jijel.

Port

A relatively new port has been built at Djen Djen,[7] approximately 7 miles east of Jijel, which can handle large bulk carriers having a draft up to 18.2m. Presently, the port is mainly used by car carriers and break bulk vessels.

See also

Sources

  • C. Michael Hogan. 2008. Barbary Macaque: Macaca sylvanus, GlobalTwitcher.com, ed. Nicklas Stromberg
  • Encyclopædia Britannica. 2002. Edition 15, v. 6 ISBN 0-85229-787-4, ISBN 978-0-85229-787-2
  • Enterprise Portuaire de Djen Djen. 2009. Port Authority Website

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Ra's Afia". Office Nationale de Signalisation Maritime. Ministere des Travaux Publics. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  2. ↑ List of Lights, Pub. 113: The West Coasts of Europe and Africa, the Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea and Azovskoye More (Sea of Azov) (PDF). List of Lights. United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. 2015.
  3. ↑ "Eastern Algeria". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  4. ↑ C. Michael Hogan. 2008
  5. ↑ Encyclopædia Britannica. 2002
  6. ↑ http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/analysis-slow-death-al-qaeda-algeria-143324001#sthash.2XufV3pR.uxfs
  7. ↑ Enterprise Portuaire de Djen Djen. 2009


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