Country Algeria Population 106,306 (1998) University University of Jijel Area 62.38 km2 | District Jijel District Mayor Yazid Abdellah | |
Jijel ( Arabic: ?, formerly known as Ighil Gili or Djidjelli) is the capital of Jijel Province in northeastern Algeria. It is flanked by the Mediterranean Sea in the region of Corniche Jijelienne, and has a 2008 census population of 131,513 inhabitants.
Contents
- Map of Jijel
- Algeriecorniche entre jijel et bejaia
- Algeriajijel in pictures
- Geography and ecology
- History
- References
Map of Jijel
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.
Algeriecorniche entre jijel et bejaia
Algeriajijel in pictures
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.
History
Jijel (Igilgili), was first inhabited by Berbers tribes, most known were the Kutama. Originally a Phoenician trading post, 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.