TOPOGRAPHY. 13 



frontier extends well into the great desert of Sahara, the present 

 outposts being- from 300 to 500 miles from the coast. 



The vast desert to the southward cuts off Algeria ph^^sically as well 

 as politically from tropical Africa. The influence of the sea upon its 

 climate and the fact that almost unbroken overland communication 

 with Europe b}'^ way of Morocco and Gibraltar has alwa3's been easy 

 make Algeria rather an outpost of Europe than an integral part of 

 Africa. In climate, ph3'siography, flora, and agriculture Algeria is 

 closelj'^ related to the countries that border the northern shore of the 

 Mediterranean — Spain, southern France, and southern Ital3^ Indeed, 

 geologists tell us that northern Africa was separated from southern 

 Europe at only a comparatively recent period. 



The part of the United States which Algeria most nearly resembles 

 is California. The climate, agriculture, and state of development of 

 the two countries are remarkabl}' similar. In their general aspects 

 thev are much alike. In both, the coast region, being limited to a 

 narrow strip b}' a range of mountains that parallels the seashore, has 

 a comparatively mild, e({uable climate. In both countries this zone is 

 preeminentl}" adapted to fruit growing. Citrus fruits, olives, figs, and 

 vines flourish there. A striking analogy exists between the great 

 plain-like valleys of Algeria, occupied largely by vine3'ards and fields 

 of cereals, and the San .loaquin and Sacramento valleys of California. 

 Finally, the conditions obtaining in the Desert of Sahara are in great 

 part reproduced in the Colorado and Mohave deserts. But to the 

 steppe or high plateau region that occupies the central part of Algeria 

 it would be more difficult to find a counterpart in California, portions 

 of Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico presenting a closer resemblance. 



If we take into consideration biological — including agricultural — 

 conditions, as well as the topographical features of the country, there 

 are three principal regions into which Algeria can be divided for con- 

 venience of description. These are (1) the coast region, extending to 

 the crests of the series of mountain ranges which follow the coast, 

 (2) the high plateau or steppe region, occupying the central portion of 

 the colony between the two great mountain systems and comprising the 

 southern slope of the northern ranges and the northern slope of the 

 southern chains, and (3) the desert region, comprising the Algerian 

 Sahara and the southern slopes of the mountain s^'stem which forms 

 the northern boundary of the Sahara. 



The second and third regions are, on the whole, more homogeneous 

 than the first, or, at any rate, their agricultural importance is too 

 small to make it desirable to subdivide them. Three subdivisions of 

 the coast region are, however, to be recognized, (1) the littoral zone, 

 comprising the immediate coast and the lower slopes of the hills and 

 mountains which border it, (2) the vallej^ and plain zone, comprising 



