El M'Ghair (), also called El Meghaïer or Mhraïer, is a town and
commune, and capital of
El M'Ghair District and
El M'Ghair Province,
Algeria
Algeria, officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It is bordered to Algeria–Tunisia border, the northeast by Tunisia; to Algeria–Libya border, the east by Libya; to Alger ...
. According to the 1998 census it has a population of 49,793,
up from 40,228 in 1998, and is the second largest town in the province after
Djamaa
Djamaa () (also written Jama'a) is a town and commune in El M'Ghair Province, Algeria. According to the 2008 census it has a population of 50,916, up from 37,438 in 1998, with an annual growth rate of 3.1%.
Geography
To the east of Djamaa is ...
. Its annual population growth rate is 2.2%.
Geography
El M'Ghair lies southwest of
Chott Felrhir
In geology, a chott, shott, or shatt (; ) is a salt lake in Africa's Maghreb that stays dry for much of the year but receives some water in the winter. The elevation of a chott surface is controlled by the position of the water table and capill ...
, a large
endorheic
An endorheic basin ( ; also endoreic basin and endorreic basin) is a drainage basin that normally retains water and allows no outflow to other external bodies of water (e.g. rivers and oceans); instead, the water drainage flows into permanent ...
salt lake. Between the town and the lake there is an extensive palm plantation.
Climate
El M'Ghair has a hot
desert climate
The desert climate or arid climate (in the Köppen climate classification ''BWh'' and ''BWk'') is a dry climate sub-type in which there is a severe excess of evaporation over precipitation. The typically bald, rocky, or sandy surfaces in desert ...
(
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification divides Earth climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on patterns of seasonal precipitation and temperature. The five main groups are ''A'' (tropical), ''B'' (arid), ''C'' (te ...
''BWh''), with very hot summers and mild winters, and very little precipitation throughout the year.
Transportation
El M'Ghair has a station on the Biskra-Touggourt railway line, which passes by the east side of the city. The N3 highway, which also connects
Biskra
Biskra () is the capital city of Biskra Province, Algeria. In 2007, its population was recorded as 307,987. Biskra is located in northeastern Algeria, about from Algiers, southwest of Batna, Algeria, Batna and north of Touggourt. It is nickna ...
to the north with
Touggourt
Touggourt (; or 'the gate') is a city and Communes of Algeria, commune, former sultanate and capital of Touggourt District, in Touggourt Province, Algeria, built next to an oasis in the Sahara. As of the 2008 census, the commune had a population ...
to the south, also passes through the city on the west side.
Education
5.4% of the population has a tertiary education, and another 18.0% has completed secondary education. The overall literacy rate is 77.4%, and is 83.4% among males and 73.4% among females.
Notable buildings
There are two mosques in the town; ''Mosque Akbar'' in the centre of the city and ''Mosque Atik'' to the west near the highway.
Localities
The commune of El M'Ghair is composed of four localities:
*
M'Gaïer
*
Dendouga
Dendouga is a village in the commune of El M'Ghair, in El M'Ghair District, El M'Ghair Province, Algeria
Algeria, officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It is bordere ...
*
N'Sigha
*
Zérig
References
Neighbouring towns and cities
{{El M'Ghair Province
Communes of El M'Ghair Province
El M'Ghair Province