Bejaia

Port in Algeria, 193 km/120 mi east of Algiers; population (1998 est) 165,800. The town lies on the edge of a fertile plain, with an annual rainfall of 1,000 mm/40 in at the mouth of the Wadi Soummam and near Mount Gouraya (660 m/2,165 ft). Trade includes exports in wood, hides, iron ore, phosphates, tobacco, hydrocarbons, and liqueurs. Bejaia dates from Roman times, and has also been controlled by pirates, by the Spanish and by the Turks. It grew to greater importance from 1833 after French occupation, and especially after the improvement of the harbour between 1905 and 1909. The installation of the oil pipeline from Hassi Messaoud in 1959 brought a further boost to its prosperity as it became a major exporting port for Saharan oil, and exports now also include olive oil, wine and cork.

History Bejaia was known to the Romans as Saldae. In the 5th century it was the chief seat of the Vandals. Under the Arabs it was named the little Mecca. The town fell into decay after the 16th century and when captured by the French in 1833 it consisted of little more than a few fortifications and ruins. The French word for candle is probably derived from the name of the town, candles being first made of wax imported from Bejaia.