Mostaganem
Coordinates: 35°56′N 0°05′E / 35.933°N 0.083°E / 35.933; 0.083 Mostaganem Coordinates: 35°56′N 0°5′E / 35.933°N 0.083°E / 35.933; 0.083 Country Algeria Province Mostaganem Province District Aïn Nouïssy District Population • Total 145,696 Time zone CET
Mostaganem is a port city in and capital of Mostaganem province, in the northwest of Algeria. The city, founded in the 11th century lies on the Gulf of Arzew, Mediterranean Sea and is 72 km ENE of Oran.It has 145,696 inhabitants as of the 2008 census. The city was founded in the 11th century as
Murustage but has origins going back to Punic and Roman times, when it had the name of
Cartenna. In 1516 it was captured by the Ottoman admiral Barbarossa and became a centre for Mediterranean sea corsairs, as well as a commercial port. By 1700 it had come under Ottoman rule and in 1833 the city was taken by France and a garrison established. Algeria became independent in 1962.