Algeria is the giant of Africa, and most of it is sand with borders drawn by committee. The personality lives up north: a jagged coastal strip and one deep notch where Morocco bites in.
The shape at a glance
Algeria is a huge mass, about 1.3 times wider than tall, dominating North Africa. The north is a narrow populated strip along a jagged Mediterranean coast; below it the country swells into an enormous Saharan bulk. A deep V-shaped notch cuts the northwest where the Moroccan border dips down, and the southern tail tapers toward Niger.
Step by step
- Start with a big block, slightly wider than tall — this is Africa's largest country, so give it room.
- Draw the north coast jagged and relatively short, a busy Mediterranean strip from Morocco to Tunisia.
- Cut the deep V notch into the northwest corner where the Moroccan border dips south before rising again.
- Bloat the center and south into the vast Saharan mass, mostly straight desert borders.
- Angle the southeast toward Niger, tapering the tail slightly.
- Keep the west border with Morocco and Western Sahara mostly straight, running down from the notch.
Mistakes that cost you points
- Forgetting the northwest notch, which is the outline's single most recognizable feature.
- Making the coast long and sweeping like Morocco's — Algeria's Mediterranean edge is comparatively short and busy.
- Drawing it too small relative to neighbors; Algeria dwarfs every other African country.
- Curving the southern desert borders, which are long straight surveyor lines.
Place it on the map
Algeria sits between Morocco to the west and Tunisia and Libya to the east on the Mediterranean, with Mali, Niger and Mauritania along its Saharan edges. It is the vast filling of North Africa's sandwich.
Pro tip: Draw the notch first and hang the country off it. Everything south of the coastal strip is straight lines, so the only artistry the IoU can reward is up top.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do you draw Algeria from memory?
- Start with the overall box — is Algeria wider than tall or the reverse — then place its signature feature first and build the rest of the outline around it. Finish with the coastline details, then compare against the real border in a free practice round to get a 0-100 score.
- How hard is it to draw Algeria?
- Algeria rates as medium difficulty. Africa's largest country is a big mass with a jagged coastal strip and a distinctive notch in the northwest.