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Africa is the world's second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. At about 30,221,532 km² (11,668,545 sq mi) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area, and 20.4% of the total land area. With more than 900,000,000 people (as of 2005) in 61 territories, it accounts for about 14% of the world's human population. The continent is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Suez Canal and the Red Sea to the northeast, the Indian Ocean to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. There are 46 countries including Madagascar, and 53 including all the island groups. |
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| Jijel (also called Djidjelli; formerly known as Gigeri or Gigery) is the capital of Jijel Province in northeastern Algeria. It borders near the Mediterranean Sea in the region Corniche jijelienne , and has an estimated population of 110,000 inhabitants (2005).
Jijel is the administrative and trade centre for a region specializing in cork processing, leather tanning and steel making. Local agriculture produces especially citrus fruits and grains. Fishing is also of great importance. Tourism (mainly Algerians) are attracted to Jijel for the landscapes and fine sand beaches. Not being a resort Jijel can be a nice place for a vacation on The Mediterranean sea shore with two hotels and places to eat.There are Phoenician tombs nearby.
Due to the rugged landscape, Jijel is slightly isolated, but it is connected by road to large cities like Bejaļa (90 km west), Setif (135 km southwest) and Constantine (150 km southeast). There is an airport also-Jijel Ferhat Abbas Airport.
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 (but which was demolished), mosque and The Jijel University.
Originally a Phoenician trading post, the city passed successively to the Romans (as Igilgili), the Arabs, and, in the 16th century, to the pirate 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. It 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 and minimal colonization. The original town was devastated by an earthquake in 1856.
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