Jijel

Jijel (Arabic: جيجل‎), the classical Igilgili, is the capital of Jijel Province in north-eastern Algeria. It is flanked by the Mediterranean Sea in the region of Corniche Jijelienne and had a population of 131,513 in 2008.

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
Country Algeria
ProvinceJijel Province
DistrictJijel District
APC2012-2017
Government
 • TypeMunicipality
 • MayorYazid Abdellah
Area
 • Total62.38 km2 (24.09 sq mi)
Elevation
10 m (30 ft)
Population
 (2008 census)
 • Total131,513
 • Density2,100/km2 (5,500/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
Postal code
18000
ISO 3166 codeCP
Websitewww.jijel-dz.org
Ra's Afia Lighthouse
Grand Phare de Jijel
R'as Afia Lighthouse
Algeria
LocationJijel
Algeria
Coordinates36°49′4.22″N 5°41′21.49″E
Year first constructed1907<[1]
Foundationstone base
Constructionmasonry tower
Tower shapeoctagonal tower with balcony and lantern attached to the front 2-storey keeper’s house
Markings / patternwhite tower, red lantern
Tower height16.8 metres (55 ft)[1]
Focal height45.2 metres (148 ft)[1]
Light sourcemain power
Intensity1,000 W[1]
Range21 nautical miles (39 km; 24 mi)[1]
CharacteristicFl R 5s.[2]
Admiralty numberE6558
NGA number22308
ARLHS numberALG-029[3]
Managing agentOffice Nationale de Signalisation Maritime

Jijel is the administrative and trade center 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
Main article: Igilgili

Igilgili originally Phoenician, the city passed to the Carthaginians, the Roman Republic and Empire, the Vandals, the Byzantines, the Umayyads, the Genovese, and the Ottomans. It was conquered for the last in the 16th century by 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 recaptured 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.

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,[5] 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.

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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. "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. Enterprise Portuaire de Djen Djen. 2009
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