a republic in northwestern Africa on the Mediterranean Sea with a population that is predominantly Sunni Muslim; colonized by France in the 19th century but gained autonomy in the early 1960s
"After gaining autonomy from French colonization in the early 1960s, Algeria emerged as an independent republic in northwestern Africa with a population that is predominantly Sunni Muslim."
A country in North Africa
"Algeria is a vast nation located in North Africa known for its diverse landscapes and rich history."
Ottoman Algeria, also the regency of Algiers or Al Jazâ'ir in Arabic, from 1515 to 1830
"During his travels through Ottoman Algeria in the early nineteenth century, the explorer documented the unique customs of the Regency before it fell to French rule."
The name Algeria comes from the Arabic word al-jazāʔir, meaning "the islands," which referred to a group of small islands that once existed in the Bay of Algiers. The modern form was adapted through French before entering English, dropping the original plural ending while keeping the reference to those historic islands.