The Martyrs Memorial: Three Standing Palm Leaves of Algiers

The Martyrs Memorial, or Maqam Echahid, is a concrete monument in Algiers commemorating the Algerian War. Located in the municipality of El Madania, it overlooks the neighborhood of Hamma and the Jardin d'essai. The monument was erected on the site of an ancient military fort and was opened on July 5, 1982, on the 20th anniversary of Algeria's independence.

The structure is fashioned in the shape of three standing palm leaves that join mid-height, reaching a height of 96 metres (315 ft). At the edge of each palm leaf is a statue of a soldier representing a stage of Algeria's struggle for independence. These leaves shelter an "eternal flame" and an Islamic style turret topped by a dome. The complex includes a crypt, an amphitheater, and the underground National Museum of El Mujahid.

The project to build a memorial in memory of the dead from the War of Independence is the brainchild of President Houari Boumedienne. Its implementation was completed under the presidency of his successor Chadli Bendjedid. Built by the Canadian company Lavalin, the construction was a technological challenge due to the curvature of the fins, the steep cliff edge, and the high seismicity of the region. The work took seven months and 20 days to complete.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons