The Sahara desert covers more than four-fifths of the land. Oil and gas reserves were discovered here in the 1950s, but most Algerians live along the northern coast. The country supplies large amounts of natural gas to Europe and energy exports are the backbone of the economy. Algeria was originally inhabited by Berbers until the Arabs conquered North Africa in the 7th century. Staying mainly in the mountainous regions, the Berbers resisted the spreading Arab influence, managing to preserve much of their language and culture. They make up some 30% of the population. Algeria's economy has suffered somewhat from the ravages of war so getting around can be a bit cumbersome. Travel in Algeria takes place mostly in the form of car and bus and the country can either be accessed by road or by air. Figuring out which method of transport to choose can be quite bothersome but car hire definitely gives you more room though it also makes you a bit of a target as it could lead to you getting lost or heading into dangerous territory unwittingly. However finding a place to stay is generally a whole lot easier with the reasonable number of hotels which dot the more tourist-friendly parts of the country.