El Oued ( ar, ولاية الوادي, ber, ⴻⵍ oⵓⴻⴷ) is a
Saharan
province
A province is almost always an administrative division within a country or sovereign state, state. The term derives from the ancient Roman ''Roman province, provincia'', which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire ...
of
Algeria
)
, image_map = Algeria (centered orthographic projection).svg
, map_caption =
, image_map2 =
, capital = Algiers
, coordinates =
, largest_city = capital
, relig ...
(n° 39) dominated by ''
Oued Souf''. It was named after
its eponymous capital. Notable towns include
El Oued
El Oued ( ar, اﻟﻮادي, ber, Suf meaning ''the River''), Souf or Oued Souf is a city, and the capital of El Oued Province, in Algeria. The oasis town is watered by an underground river, hence its name is El Oued which enables date palm cult ...
itself and
El M'Ghair
El M'Ghair ( ar, اﻟﻤﻐﻴﺮ), also called El Meghaïer or Mhraïer, is a town and commune, and capital of El M'Ghair District and El M'Ghair Province, Algeria. According to the 1998 census it has a population of 49,793, up from 40,228 in 1 ...
,
Djamaa
Djamaa ( ar, ﺟﺎﻣﻌﺔ) (also written Jama'a) is a town and commune in El Oued 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 ea ...
and
Guemar
Guemar ( ar, ﻗﻤﺎر) is a Saharan oasis town in Algeria near the Tunisian border, in the Oued Souf area of the El Oued Province, about 20 km north of El Oued. It includes a zaouia and a border post. According to the 2008 census it has ...
.
Geography
Physical geography
El Oued Province lies in the Sahara desert in northeast Algeria. The mostly uninhabited southern half of the province is covered by the
Grand Erg Oriental
The Grand Erg Oriental (English: 'Great Eastern Sand Sea') is a large ''erg'' or "field of sand dunes" in the Sahara Desert. Situated for the most part in Saharan lowlands of northeast Algeria, the Grand Erg Oriental covers an area some 600 k ...
, a vast region of uninterrupted
sand dunes. The northern half of the province is a mixture of sandy desert with scarce vegetation, scattered
oases, and
salt lakes
A salt lake or saline lake is a landlocked body of water that has a concentration of salt (chemistry), salts (typically sodium chloride) and other dissolved minerals significantly higher than most lakes (often defined as at least three grams of ...
. The most notable oases are the
Oued Souf
El Oued ( ar, اﻟﻮادي, ber, Suf meaning ''the River''), Souf or Oued Souf is a city, and the capital of El Oued Province, in Algeria. The oasis town is watered by an underground river, hence its name is El Oued which enables date palm culti ...
region, upon which the capital El Oued and neighbouring towns are built, as well as oases located near the towns of
El M'Ghair
El M'Ghair ( ar, اﻟﻤﻐﻴﺮ), also called El Meghaïer or Mhraïer, is a town and commune, and capital of El M'Ghair District and El M'Ghair Province, Algeria. According to the 1998 census it has a population of 49,793, up from 40,228 in 1 ...
and
Djamaa
Djamaa ( ar, ﺟﺎﻣﻌﺔ) (also written Jama'a) is a town and commune in El Oued 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 ea ...
, both of which support extensive palm plantations.
Chott Melrhir
Chott Melrhir () also known as Chott Melghir or Chott Melhir is an endorheic chott-kind of salt lake in northeastern Algeria. It is the westernmost part of a series of depressions, which extend from the Gulf of Gabès into the Sahara. They were ...
, a large
endorheic
An endorheic basin (; also spelled endoreic basin or endorreic basin) is a drainage basin that normally retains water and allows no outflow to other external bodies of water, such as rivers or oceans, but drainage converges instead into lakes ...
salt lake, lies in the north-central part of the province, while
Chott Felrhir
In geology, a chott, shott, or shatt (; ar, شط, šaṭṭ, lit=bank, coast) 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 po ...
is a smaller salt lake to its southwest, near El M'Ghair. These salt lakes, and the surrounding areas, lie as much as below sea level; nearby towns and villages including
Hamraia
Hamraia ( ar, حمراية) is a town and commune in Reguiba District, El Oued Province, Algeria. According to the 2008 census it has a population of 5,172, up from 3,938 in 1998, with an annual growth rate of 2.8%.
Geography
Hamraia is near Chot ...
,
Méguibra
Méguibra is a village in the commune of Hamraia, in Reguiba District, El Oued Province, Algeria. The village is located just to the north of the N43 national highway just east of its junction with the N3 highway, and despite being in the commu ...
,
Dendouga
Dendouga is a village in the commune of El M'Ghair, in El M'Ghair District, El M'Ghair Province, Algeria
)
, image_map = Algeria (centered orthographic projection).svg
, map_caption =
, image_map2 =
...
and
Aïn Cheikh
Aïn Cheikh is a village in the commune of Sidi Khellil, in El M'Ghair District, El Oued Province, Algeria
)
, image_map = Algeria (centered orthographic projection).svg
, map_caption =
, image_map2 =
...
are also below sea level.
Climate
El Oued Province experiences 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 ...
. Winters are mild, with average temperatures around in January, but summers are hot with average temperatures around , average maxima around and the hottest days approaching .
Precipitation
In meteorology, precipitation is any product of the condensation of atmospheric water vapor that falls under gravitational pull from clouds. The main forms of precipitation include drizzle, rain, sleet, snow, ice pellets, graupel and hail. ...
is very low throughout the province, but somewhat more rain does fall in the north, particularly during the winter and adjacent months.
Neighbouring districts
El Oued Province is bordered to the northeast by
Tébessa Province
Tébessa ( ar, ولاية تبسة) is a province (''wilayah'') of Algeria. Tébessa is also the name of the capital, which in ancient times it was known as ''Theveste''. Another important city is El Ouenza. Tébessa is located only 20 kilomete ...
, to the north by
Khenchela Province
Khenchela Province ( ar, ولاية خنشلة) is a province (''wilaya'') in the Aures region in Algeria.
History
The province was created from parts of Oum el Bouaghi Province and Tébessa Province in 1984.
Administrative division
The provin ...
, to the northwest by
Biskra Province
Biskra ( ar, ولاية بسكرة) is a province (''wilaya'') of Algeria. The capital city is Biskra. Tolga is one of the famous ''daïras'' of this wilaya. Other localities include Lichoua, Sidi Okba, Sidi Khaled, El-Kantara and Ouled Djell ...
, to the south and southwest by
Ouargla Province
Ouargla or Warqla ( ar, ولاية ورقلة) is a province (''wilaya'') in eastern Algeria. Its capital is Ouargla. Other localities include Hassi Ben Abdellah and Hassi Messaoud. It contains the Issaouane Erg desert.
History
In the past Oua ...
, to the southeast by
Tunisia
)
, image_map = Tunisia location (orthographic projection).svg
, map_caption = Location of Tunisia in northern Africa
, image_map2 =
, capital = Tunis
, largest_city = capital
, ...
's
Tataouine Governorate
Tataouine Governorate ( ') is the southernmost of the twenty-four governorates of Tunisia, the only one to border both Algeria and Libya. It is also the largest, covering an area of 38,889 km². It had a population of 149,453 (at the 2014 ce ...
, and to the east by
Tunisia
)
, image_map = Tunisia location (orthographic projection).svg
, map_caption = Location of Tunisia in northern Africa
, image_map2 =
, capital = Tunis
, largest_city = capital
, ...
's
Tozeur
Tozeur ( ar, توزر, ; ber, ⵜⵓⵣⴻⵔ, Tuzər) is a city in southwest Tunisia. The city is located northwest of Chott el Djerid, in between this Chott and the smaller Chott el Gharsa. It is the capital of Tozeur Governorate. It was the ...
and
Kebili Governorate
Kebili Governorate ( ' ) is the second largest of the 24 governorates (provinces) of Tunisia. It is situated in south-western Tunisia, bordering Algeria. It covers an area of and had a population of 156,961 at the 2014 census.Biskra Province
Biskra ( ar, ولاية بسكرة) is a province (''wilaya'') of Algeria. The capital city is Biskra. Tolga is one of the famous ''daïras'' of this wilaya. Other localities include Lichoua, Sidi Okba, Sidi Khaled, El-Kantara and Ouled Djell ...
in 1984.
Administrative divisions
The province is made up of 10
districts, which are divided into 22
''communes'' or municipalities.
Districts
#
Bayadha
Bayadha ( ar, اﻟﺒﻴﺎﺿﺔ) is a town and commune, coextensive with Bayadha District, in El Oued Province, Algeria. According to the 2008 census it has a population of 32,926, up from 26,535 in 1998, with an annual growth rate of 2.2% ...
#
Debila
Debila ( ar, اﻟﺪﺑﻴﻠﺔ) is a town and commune, and the capital of Debila District, in El Oued Province, Algeria. According to the 2008 census it has a population of 25,158, up from 20,088 in 1998, and an annual growth rate of 2.3%.
Clim ...
#
El Oued
El Oued ( ar, اﻟﻮادي, ber, Suf meaning ''the River''), Souf or Oued Souf is a city, and the capital of El Oued Province, in Algeria. The oasis town is watered by an underground river, hence its name is El Oued which enables date palm cult ...
#
Guemar
Guemar ( ar, ﻗﻤﺎر) is a Saharan oasis town in Algeria near the Tunisian border, in the Oued Souf area of the El Oued Province, about 20 km north of El Oued. It includes a zaouia and a border post. According to the 2008 census it has ...
#
Hassi Khelifa
Hassi Khelifa ( ar, ﺣﺎﺳﻰ ﺧﻠﻴﻔﺔ) is a town and commune, and capital of Hassi Khelifa District in El Oued Province, Algeria. According to the 2008 census it has a population of 31,784, up from 25,118 in 1998, with an annual growth ...
#
Magrane
#
Mih Ouensa
#
Reguiba
Reguiba ( ar, اﻟﺮﻗﻴﺒﺔ) is a town and commune, and capital of Reguiba District, in El Oued Province, Algeria. According to the 2008 census it has a population of 40,367, up from 30,392 in 1998, and an annual growth rate of 2.9%.
Clima ...
#
Robbah
#
Taleb Larbi
Taleb Larbi ( ar, ﻃﺎﻟﺐ اﻟﻌﺮﺑﻲ) is a town and commune, and capital of Taleb Larbi District, El Oued Province, Algeria. According to the 2008 census it has a population of 7,074, up from 3,582 in 1998, with an annual of growth rat ...
Communes
#
Bayadha
Bayadha ( ar, اﻟﺒﻴﺎﺿﺔ) is a town and commune, coextensive with Bayadha District, in El Oued Province, Algeria. According to the 2008 census it has a population of 32,926, up from 26,535 in 1998, with an annual growth rate of 2.2% ...
#
Ben Guecha
Ben Guecha ( ar, ﺑﻦ ﻗﺸﺔ) is a town and commune in Taleb Larbi District, El Oued Province, Algeria. According to the 2008 census it has a population of 2,513, up from 1,036 in 1998, with an annual growth rate of 9.5%, the highest in th ...
#
Debila
Debila ( ar, اﻟﺪﺑﻴﻠﺔ) is a town and commune, and the capital of Debila District, in El Oued Province, Algeria. According to the 2008 census it has a population of 25,158, up from 20,088 in 1998, and an annual growth rate of 2.3%.
Clim ...
#
Douar El Ma
Douar El Ma ( ar, دوار اﻟﻤﺎء) is a town and commune in Taleb Larbi District, El Oued Province, Algeria, near the border with Tunisia. According to the 2008 census it has a population of 5,543, up from 3,527 in 1998,
and an annual grow ...
#
El Ogla
#
El Oued
El Oued ( ar, اﻟﻮادي, ber, Suf meaning ''the River''), Souf or Oued Souf is a city, and the capital of El Oued Province, in Algeria. The oasis town is watered by an underground river, hence its name is El Oued which enables date palm cult ...
#
Guemar
Guemar ( ar, ﻗﻤﺎر) is a Saharan oasis town in Algeria near the Tunisian border, in the Oued Souf area of the El Oued Province, about 20 km north of El Oued. It includes a zaouia and a border post. According to the 2008 census it has ...
#
Hamraia
Hamraia ( ar, حمراية) is a town and commune in Reguiba District, El Oued Province, Algeria. According to the 2008 census it has a population of 5,172, up from 3,938 in 1998, with an annual growth rate of 2.8%.
Geography
Hamraia is near Chot ...
#
Hassani Abdelkrim
Hassani Abdelkrim ( ar, حساني ﻋﺒﺪ اﻟﻜﺮﻳﻢ) is a town and commune in Debila District, El Oued Province, Algeria. According to the 2008 census it has a population of 22,755, up from 17,207 in 1998, with a population growth rate ...
#
Hassi Khelifa
Hassi Khelifa ( ar, ﺣﺎﺳﻰ ﺧﻠﻴﻔﺔ) is a town and commune, and capital of Hassi Khelifa District in El Oued Province, Algeria. According to the 2008 census it has a population of 31,784, up from 25,118 in 1998, with an annual growth ...
#
Kouinine
Kouinine ( ar, آﻮﻳﻨﻴﻦ) is a town and commune in El Oued District, El Oued Province, Algeria. According to the 2008 census it has a population of 10,076, up from 7,571 in 1998, with a population growth rate of 3.0%.
Climate
Kouinine ...
#
Magrane
#
Mih Ouensa
#
Nakhla
#
Oued El Alenda
#
Ourmes
Ourmes ( ar, ورماس) (also written Ourmas) is a town and Communes of Algeria, commune in Guemar District, El Oued Province, Algeria. According to the 2008 census it has a population of 5,900, up from 5,059 in 1998, with an annual growth rate o ...
#
Reguiba
Reguiba ( ar, اﻟﺮﻗﻴﺒﺔ) is a town and commune, and capital of Reguiba District, in El Oued Province, Algeria. According to the 2008 census it has a population of 40,367, up from 30,392 in 1998, and an annual growth rate of 2.9%.
Clima ...
#
Robbah
#
Sidi Aoun
Sidi Aoun ( ar, ﺳﻴﺪي ﻋﻮن) is a town and commune in Magrane District, El Oued Province, Algeria. According to the 2008 census it has a population of 12,235, up from 10,018 in 1998, and an annual growth rate of 2.1%. Sidi Aoun is connec ...
#
Taghzout
#
Taleb Larbi
Taleb Larbi ( ar, ﻃﺎﻟﺐ اﻟﻌﺮﺑﻲ) is a town and commune, and capital of Taleb Larbi District, El Oued Province, Algeria. According to the 2008 census it has a population of 7,074, up from 3,582 in 1998, with an annual of growth rat ...
#
Trifaoui
Trifaoui ( ar, ﺗﺮﻳﻔﺎوى) is a town and commune in Hassi Khelifa District, El Oued Province, Algeria. According to the 2008 census it has a population of 8,257, up from 6,361 in 1998, and an annual growth rate of 2.7%.
Climate
Trifaou ...
References
{{Authority control
Provinces of Algeria
States and territories established in 1984