Adrar (Tamazight: ⴰⴷⵔⴰⵔ romanized: Adrar, ) is the administrative capital of Adrar Province, the second largest province in Algeria. The commune is sited around an oasis in the Touat region of the Sahara Desert. According to a 2008 census, it has a population of 64,781, up from 43,903 in 1998, with an annual growth rate of 4.0%.
Adrar is mainly an agricultural town, characterized by its traditional irrigation system, the Foggara.
Name The city's name means "mountain" in Berber.
History Adrar is located in the Touat region, which was historically an important trade region for caravans crossing the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Since Algerian independence, the city has witnessed much growth due to infrastructure, social, and housing projects.
Geography
Adrar lies at an elevation of above sea level. A large oasis lies to the southwest of the town; this oasis lies in the Tuat region, a string of oases running from Bouda in the north to Reggane in the south. A vast area of sand dunes, the Erg Chech, lies to the west, while a large rocky plateau, the Tademaït, lies to the east.
Climate
Adrar has a hot desert climate (Köppen climate classification BWh), with severely long and hot summers and short, mild winters, and averages just of rainfall per year. Summer temperatures are consistently high as they commonly approach 46 °C (114 °F). Temperatures at night are still hot at around 27 °C (81 °F). Even in early May or in late August, daytime temperatures can rise to 48 °C (118 °F). Winter nights can be chilly and frost is by no means unknown but the days are pleasantly warm, sunny and dry.The Times Books World Weather Guide, E.A Pearce and C.G. Smith, TIMES BOOKS, The New York Times Book Co., Inc. During the summer, the Sahara region of Algeria is the source of a scorching, sometimes dusty and southerly wind called the Sirocco. These winds parch the plateaus of northern Algeria up to 40 days and reach the Tell coastal region for as many as 20 days.The World Book Encyclopedia. Chicago: Scott Fetzer Co., 2007.
Culture
The settlement in the region (also known as Touat) is quite ancient and the area provides for several different cultures and includes several historic monuments. This intermingling gave birth to a body of traditions and of cultural and hand-crafted practices that are still present today in the life of its inhabitants, translating into a wealth of the folklore and cultural heritage.
Transportation Touat Cheikh Sidi Mohamed Belkebir Airport (or simply Adrar Airport) is located 10 kilometers away from center of the city. Airlines include Air Algérie flight to Algiers, Bordj Badji Mokhtar, Oran and Ouargla in addition to Tassili Airlines flights to In Aménas.
Adrar is on the N6 national highway, which leads north to Béchar and south to Reggane and Timiaouine.
Demographics
Year Populationpopulstat.info 1936 800 1966 13,300 1987 28,600 1998 43,903 2008 64,781
Education
9.2% of the population has a tertiary education, and another 19.8% has completed secondary education. The overall literacy rate is 84.1%, and is 89.9% among males and 78.1% among females (the second highest among all the communes in the province). The University of Adrar is located in the city. Adrar joined the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities in 2020.
Nuclear testing Adrar was the site of one of the In Ekker series, French nuclear tests during the 1960s.
Localities As of 1984, the commune was composed of the following eight localities:
Adrar Adgha Ouguedim Barbaa Ouled Oungal Ouled Ouchen Ouled Ali Tililane Meraguen
References
External links