Annaba

Annaba
عنابة
—  Commune and city  —
Annaba
Location of Annaba within Algeria
Coordinates:
Country  Algeria
Province Annaba Province
District Annaba District
Population (2008)
 • Total 257,359
Time zone CET (UTC+1)

Annaba (Arabic: عنابة‎, ‘Annābah, formerly Bône, historically Hippo) is a city in the northeastern corner of Algeria near the river Seybouse. It is located in Annaba Province. With a population of 257,359 (2008[1]), it is the fourth largest city in Algeria. It is a leading industrial centre in eastern Algeria.

Contents

Prehistory and history

The vicinity of Annaba has yielded evidence of very early hominid occupation at Ain el Hanech, near Saïda (c. 200,000 B.C.), including artefacts that show remarkable tool-making craftsmanship. Other archaeological finds include tools in the Levalloisian and Mousterian styles produced by humans (Homo sapiens) well before 100,000 years ago, similar to those in the Levant. According to some sources, prehistoric Algeria was the site of the most advanced development of flake-tool techniques in the Middle Early Stone Age (Middle Paleolithic). Tools from this era, starting from at least as early as 85,000 BC, are called Aterian after the site Bir el Ater south of Annaba. These tools are marked by a high standard of workmanship, great variety, and specialization. See Prehistory of Central North Africa. Annaba, which was called Hippo Regius during Roman times, was probably founded by the Phoenicians in the 12th century BC. It was a centre of early Western Christianity and was the site of many Christian synods, one of which was central in canonizing the current books of the New Testament Augustine of Hippo was bishop here from 396 until his death in 430.[2]The city has buildings from its Roman, Christian, and Muslim eras.

During French rule, the city was known as Bône. It was one of the main European settlements, having a sizeable pied-noir minority. One famous pied-noir from Bône was Alphonse Juin, a Marshal of France and a former NATO Central Europe Commander.

Demographic Evolution in Annaba
(Source : www.populstat.info link here)
Year 1882 1886 1892 1896 1899 1901 1906 1911 1921 1926 1931 1936 1948 1954 1960 1966 1974 1977 1987 1998
Population 22,000 30,800 32300 32300 34500 37000 42900 42000 45200 51900 68800 83300 102800 114100 164000 168800 313200 255900 305500 359657

Climate

Climate data for Annaba
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 16.3
(61.3)
16.8
(62.2)
18.6
(65.5)
20.5
(68.9)
23.7
(74.7)
27.5
(81.5)
30.5
(86.9)
31.3
(88.3)
28.9
(84.0)
25.9
(78.6)
20.8
(69.4)
17.6
(63.7)
23.2
(73.8)
Daily mean °C (°F) 11.6
(52.9)
11.9
(53.4)
13.4
(56.1)
15.2
(59.4)
18.4
(65.1)
22.0
(71.6)
24.8
(76.6)
25.7
(78.3)
23.6
(74.5)
20.4
(68.7)
15.9
(60.6)
12.9
(55.2)
17.98
(64.36)
Average low °C (°F) 6.9
(44.4)
7.0
(44.6)
8.2
(46.8)
9.8
(49.6)
13.0
(55.4)
16.5
(61.7)
19.0
(66.2)
20.0
(68.0)
18.2
(64.8)
14.9
(58.8)
10.9
(51.6)
8.1
(46.6)
12.71
(54.88)
Precipitation mm (inches) 98.5
(3.878)
76.6
(3.016)
61.2
(2.409)
64.1
(2.524)
38.3
(1.508)
14.0
(0.551)
3.10
(0.122)
8.20
(0.3228)
37.5
(1.476)
64.8
(2.551)
98.4
(3.874)
110.8
(4.362)
675.5
(26.594)
Avg. precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) 14.5 12.2 11.4 11.2 8.2 4.2 1.4 2.8 6.9 9.5 14.5 14.6 111.4
Source: World Meteorological Organization (UN)[3]

Education

One of Annaba's most notable educational institutions is Annaba University. As of 2004, there are over 40,000 students enrolled.[4]

Transportation and industry

Annaba is served by Rabah Bitat Airport, an international airport whose IATA airport code is AAE. Annaba has rail links to the Algerian cities of Constantine and Algiers.

Tourism

Annaba is known for its beautiful beaches, hotels and night life. Most foreign tourists are from Italy and France.

References

  1. ^ 2008 census [1]
  2. ^ Braudel, Fernand (1995) [1963]. A history of civilizations. New York: Penguin Books. p. 335. ISBN 0140124896. "A Berber, born in 354 at Thagaste (now Souk-Ahras) in Africa, he died as Bishop of Hippo (later Bone, now Annaba) in 430, while the Vandals were besieging the town." 
  3. ^ "Weather Information for Annaba". August 2011. http://www.worldweather.org/122/c01434.htm. 
  4. ^ http://www.annaba-univ.dz.org
  5. ^ http://www.visoterra.com/images/original/Visoterra-annaba---vue-d-helicopter-6414.jpg

External links