Biskra Province (original) (raw)

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Province of Algeria

Province in Algeria

Biskra Province ولاية بسكرة
Province
Map of Algeria highlighting BiskraMap of Algeria highlighting Biskra
Coordinates: 34°52′N 05°45′E / 34.867°N 5.750°E / 34.867; 5.750
Country Algeria
Capital Biskra
Government
• PPA president Mr. Slimani Azeddine (RND)
• Wāli Mr. Karoum Ahmed
Area
• Total 21,509 km2 (8,305 sq mi)
Population (2015)[1]
• Total 869,215
• Density 40/km2 (100/sq mi)
Time zone UTC+01 (CET)
Area Code +213 (0) 33
ISO 3166 code DZ-07
Districts 12
Municipalities 33

Biskra (Arabic: ولاية بسكرة, Berber: ⴱⴻⵙⴽⵔⴰ) is a province (wilaya) of Algeria. Its capital is Biskra. It is located on the northern edge of the Algerian Sahara, south of the Atlas Mountains.

Geographically, Biskra Province is arid, but oases and rivers can be found, such as the Djedi River which flows through the province. The mountainous Aurès region also extends into the province.

Biskra Province is home to the district of Tolga, which is well-known internationally for its high-quality Deglet Nour dates. Other localities include Lichoua, Sidi Okba, Sidi Khaled, El-Kantara and Ouled Djellal.

The Biskra area has been inhabited since at least the 3rd millennium BC, when the Gaetuli, an ancient Berber tribe, arrived in North Africa. They settled in the Aurès region, where they posed problems to Roman infiltration in the 3rd century BC as they were stellar horsemen and became dreaded in combat. Eventually, Roman politician Gaius Marius negotiated exploration of the South against concessions of agricultural land around Cirta and Setifis (at the time under Roman rule), and dispersed them and diminished their strength.

The Biskra area experienced many violent wars during Roman colonization, including the resistance war led by the Berber leader Tacfarinas, followed by his successor, the militant Jugurtha "Youghorta". With the help of the inhabitants of the city of Biskra, who provided human and material support, Jugurtha destroyed the Roman army at the end of the so-called Numidia region.

The Romans also established the city of Tolga and during their rule in the second century A.D, Syrian archers guarding the town of El Kantara were thought to have planted the first date palm grove in the region.

The province was created from parts of Oasis department and Batna (département) in 1974.

In 1984 El Oued Province was carved out of its territory.

Administrative divisions

[edit]

The province is made up of 12 districts and 33 communes or municipalities.

  1. Biskra

  2. Djemourah

  3. Foughala

  4. El Kantara

  5. El Outaya

  6. M'Chouneche

  7. Ouled Djellal

  8. Ourlal

  9. Sidi Khaled

  10. Sidi Okba

  11. Tolga

  12. Zeribet El Oued

  13. Aïn Naga

  14. Aïn Zaatout

  15. Biskra

  16. Bordj Ben Azzouz

  17. Bouchagroune

  18. Branis

  19. Chetma

  20. Djemorah

  21. Doucen

  22. El Feidh

  23. El Ghrous

  24. El Hadjeb

  25. El Haouch

  26. El Kantara

  27. El Outaya

  28. Foughala

  29. Khenguet Sidi Nadjil

  30. Lichana

  31. Lioua

  32. M'Chouneche

  33. Mekhadma

  34. Meziraa

  35. M'Lili

  36. Ouled Djellal

  37. Ouled Harkat

  38. Ouled Rahma

  39. Ouled Sassi

  40. Oumache

  41. Ourlala

  42. Sidi Khaled

  43. Sidi Okba

  44. Tolga

  45. Zeribet El Oued

  46. ^ http://www.wilayabiskra.dz/files/download/partie_1sur2%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%A7%D9%86%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%86%D9%88%D9%8A%20%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%86%D8%A92015.pdf [_dead link_‍]