Tlemcen (, Tamazight: ⵜⴰⵡⵉⵍⴰⵢⵜ ⵏ ⵜⵍⴻⵎⵙⵉⵏ) is a province (wilaya) in northwestern Algeria. It is located southwest of Oran. According to the 2008 census, the province has a population of 945,525.

Geography Tlemcen Province lies among the Tlemcen Mountains and the Trara Mountains. The province is home to a set of agricultural plains located in its southern and western parts. The Algerian Steppes run through its south. Located in northwestern Algeria, it has an area of 9,017.69 km2. It is bordered by Morocco to the west, Naama to the south, Sidi-Bel-Abbes to the east, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north. It has a Mediterranean coastline of about 120 kilometers.

Forestry Tlemcen Province has a forest cover of 225,000 ha, consisting of forest, scrub, and brush. With an afforestation rate of 24%, the province is considered to have a forestry vocation. However, forest cover is unevenly distributed; more than 80% of silvicultural potential is concentrated in the Tlemcen Mountains.

The main forests are dominated by aleppo pines, holm oaks, thujas, junipers, cork oaks, and various other tree species. The most forested municipalities, with forest cover ranging from a third to two thirds of their territory, are located in the western parts of Tlemcen Mountains. (Beni Boussaid, Beni Snous, Beni Bahdel, Azails, Bouhlou)

Climate The province is dominated by a Mediteranean climate throughout its land mass with hot summers and cool/dry winters. However, Tlemcen Province also includes two small pockets of semi-arid climates, one hot and the other cold. Rainfall is generally subject to inter-annual irregularity.

History

Near the end of the 2nd century, the Romans founded the ancient military outpost of Pomaria on the present-day location of Tlemcen. Over time, the region became the center of a large Christian population lasting up to the Arab invasions. By the 7th century, Islam was introduced into the region via Abu al-Muhajir Dinar, and the city of Agadir took Pomaria's place.Bel, Alfred & Yalaoui, M. (2000). "Tilimsān". In Bearman, P. J.; Bianquis, Th.; Bosworth, C. E.; van Donzel, E. & Heinrichs, W. P. (eds.). The Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition. Volume X: T–U. Leiden: E. J. Brill. pp. 498–299. .

The region then experienced the reigns of the Almoravid and Almohad dynasties respectively.M. Bloom, Jonathan; S. Blair, Sheila, eds. (2009). "Tlemcen". The Grove Encyclopedia of Islamic Art and Architecture. Oxford University Press. . After the collapse of the Almohad dynasty, the Zayyanid dynasty, who ruled the Kingdom of Tlemcen, began their reign over the region. Shortly after, they made Tlemcen their capital.L'invention d'une capitale : Tlemcen : (VIIe-XIIIe/IXe-XVe siècle) (in French). Éditions de la Sorbonne. . Archived from the original on 2023-05-14. Retrieved 2023-05-14. When the Zayyanids collapsed, the region became attached to the Regency of Algiers.

At the start of the French conquest of Algeria, the Treaty of Tafna in 1837 elected Emir Abdelkader as the governor of Tlemcen and surrounding areas.McDougall, James (2017). A History of Algeria (1 ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 59–68, 70–73, 81. . After the Algerian War, the province was created from the French Oran Department in 1974.

Economy

Agriculture is an important economic sector in the province. The plains of Maghnia, Remchi, Hennaya, and the basins of Beni Ouarsous are the main producers of agricultural products such as potatoes, fruits, cereals, Vegetables, et ceteta. The province is known for the manufacturing of textiles, leather, carpet, cement, and fuel in major cities such as Tlemcen. The Souk Tleta Seawater Desalination Plant was inaugurated in April 2011 by the Ministry of Water Resources for President Abdelaziz Boutefilka's visit to Tlemcen.

With a coastline overlooking the Mediterranean, the province has experienced a resurgence of tourist activity since the 2000s due to the creation of tourist complexes on the province's beaches. In 2012, the province had fifty-eight hotels and 1,896 rooms within them combined.

Administrative divisions

The province is divided into 20 districts (daïras) which have existed since independence in 1962:

Districts

Aïn Talout Bab El Assa Bensekrane Béni Boussaïd Béni Snous Chatouane Felaoucene Ghazaouet Hennaya Houanaine District (Honaine) Maghnia Mansourah Marsa Ben M'Hidi Nedroma Ouled Mimoun Remchi Sabra Sebdou Sidi Djillali Tlemcen

Communes

Ain Fetah (Ain Fettah) Ain Fezza Ain Ghoraba Ain Kebira Ain Nehala Ain Tellout (Ain Tallout) Ain Youcef Amieur Azails Bab El Assa Beni Bahdel Beni Boussaid Beni Khellad (Formerly Souk El Khemis) Beni Mester Beni Ouarsous Beni Smiel (Beni Semiel) Beni Snous Bensekrane Bouhlou Chetouane Dar Yaghmoricene (Dar Yaghmouracene) Djebala El Aricha El Bouihi (Bouihi) El Fehoul El Gor Fellaoucene Ghazaouet Hammam Boughrara Hennaya Honaine (Houanaine) Maghnia Mansourah Marsa Ben Mhidi (Marsa Ben M'Hidi) Msirda Fouaga Nedroma Oued Chouli (Oued Chouly) Ouled Mimoun Ouled Riyah Remchi Sabra Sebaa Chioukh (Sebbaa Chioukh) Sebdou Sidi Abdelli Sidi Djilali (Sidi Djillali) Sidi Medjahed Souahlia Souani Souk Thlata (Souk Tleta, Souk Tlata) Terni Beni Hediel (Terny Beni Hediel, Tirni Beni Hediel) Tianet Tlemcen Zeralda Forest Zenata

References