King Juba II: The Algerian scholar who discovered the Canary Islands

King Juba II remains a pivotal figure in Algeria's ancient history, having successfully transitioned his kingdom into a prestigious center of knowledge and wealth that impressed the Romans. In the first century BC, he commissioned a significant scientific maritime expedition into the Atlantic Ocean. Upon reaching a pristine archipelago, his fleet encountered a population of large, wild dogs, leading them to name the location 'Insulae Canariae' in Latin. This term, meaning 'Islands of the Dogs,' serves as the origin of the modern name, the Canary Islands.