Batna Province
Encyclopedia
Batna is a wilaya of Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...

. Capital is Batna. Localities in this province include Barika
Barika
Barika is a city in Batna Province, in eastern Algeria. The city has a population of 144,547 ....

, Merouana
Merouana
Merouana city in Algeria is under the jurisdiction of the Batna Province; it is 40 km from Batna City. The Chawi is one of the most indigenous populations, the name means cowboys and shepherds. Merouana is one of the oldest daïras in the nation...

 and Timgad
Timgad
Timgad , called Thamugas or Tamugadi in old Berber) was a Roman colonial town in the Aures mountain- numidia Algeria founded by the Emperor Trajan around 100 AD. The full name of the town was Colonia Marciana Ulpia Traiana Thamugadi...

. Belezma National Park is there.

Administrative divisions

It is made up of 22 districts
Districts of Algeria
The provinces of Algeria are divided into 553 districts . The capital of a district is called a district seat...

 and 61 municipalities
Communes of Algeria
This is a list of all communes in the North African country of Algeria. Currently, there are 1,541 communes in the country. The population data is from June 25, 1998.-See also:* List of cities in Algeria* List of postal codes of Algerian cities...

.

The districts are:
  1. Aïn Djasser
    Aïn Djasser District
    Aïn Djasser District is a district of Batna Province, Algeria....

  2. Aïn Touta
    Aïn Touta District
    Aïn Touta District is a district of Batna Province, Algeria....

  3. Arris
    Arris District
    Arris District is a district of Batna Province, Algeria....

  4. Barika
    Barika District
    Barika District is a district of Batna Province, Algeria....

  5. Batna
    Batna District
    Batna District is a district of Batna Province, Algeria....

  6. Bouzina
    Bouzina District
    Bouzina District is a district of Batna Province, Algeria....

  7. Chemora
    Chemora District
    Chemora District is a district of Batna Province, Algeria....

  8. Djezzar
    Djezzar District
    Djezzar District is a district of Batna Province, Algeria....

  9. El Madher
    El Madher District
    El Madher District is a district of Batna Province, Algeria....

  10. Ichmoul
    Ichmoul District
    Ichmoul District is a district of Batna Province, Algeria....

  11. Menaâ
    Menaâ District
    Menaâ District is a district of Batna Province, Algeria....

  12. Merouana
    Merouana District
    Merouana District is a district of Batna Province, Algeria....

  13. N'Gaous
    N'Gaous District
    N'Gaous District is a district of Batna Province, Algeria....

  14. Ouled Salem
    Ouled Salem District
    Ouled Salem District is a district of Batna Province, Algeria....

  15. Ouled Si Slimane
    Ouled Si Slimane District
    Ouled Si Slimane District is a district of Batna Province, Algeria....

  16. Ras El Aioun
    Ras El Aioun District
    Ras El Aioun District is a district of Batna Province, Algeria....

  17. Seggana
    Seggana District
    Seggana District is a district of Batna Province, Algeria....

  18. Seriana
    Seriana District
    Seriana District is a district of Batna Province, Algeria....

  19. T'Kout
    T'Kout District
    T'Kout District is a district of Batna Province, Algeria....

  20. Tazoult
    Tazoult District
    Tazoult District is a district of Batna Province, Algeria....

  21. Théniet El Abed
    Théniet El Abed District
    Théniet El Abed District is a district of Batna Province, Algeria....

  22. Timgad
    Timgad District
    Timgad District is a district of Batna Province, Algeria....


The municipalities are:
  1. Aïn Djasser
    Aïn Djasser
    Aïn Djasser is a town in northeastern Algeria....

  2. Aïn Touta
    Aïn Touta
    Aïn Touta is a town situated in the east of Algeria. It is located 35 km southwest of Batna and 82 km north of Biskra. It has an area of about five square kilometers ....

  3. Aïn Yagout
    Aïn Yagout
    Aïn Yagout is a town in northeastern Algeria....

  4. Amantan
    Amantan
    Amantan is a small village in Algeria, in the wilaya of Batna....

  5. Amdoukal
    Amdoukal
    Amdoukal is a town in northeastern Algeria....

  6. Arris
  7. Barika
    Barika
    Barika is a city in Batna Province, in eastern Algeria. The city has a population of 144,547 ....

  8. Batna
  9. Ben Foudhala El Hakania
    Ben Foudhala El Hakania
    Ben Foudhala El Hakania is a town in northeastern Algeria....

  10. Bitam
  11. Boulhilat
    Boulhilat
    Boulhilat is a town in northeastern Algeria....

  12. Boumague
    Boumague
    Boumaguer is a town in northeastern Algeria. Area of the town is 111.69 km2, 8,482 people live there, density of population is 75.95/km2.The climate prevailing in this region is very dry and hot, summer extends up to six months, there is cold and rainy winter, which range from 15 days to 20 days.-...

  13. Boumia
  14. Bouzina
    Bouzina
    Bouzina is a town in northeastern Algeria.The county of Bouzina is inhabited by two main tirbes "Aith Nasser" southern the county and "Aith Abdi" in the northern areas...

  15. Djerma
    Djerma, Algeria
    Djerma, Algeria is a town in northeastern Algeria....

  16. Djezzar
    Djezzar, Algeria
    Djezzar, Algeria is a town in northeastern Algeria....

  17. Draa Etine
    Draa Etine
    Draa Etine is a town in northeastern Algeria....

  18. El Hassi
  19. El Madher
    El Madher
    El Madher is a town in northeastern Algeria....

  20. Fesdis
    Fesdis
    Fesdis is a town in northeastern Algeria....

  21. Foum Toub
    Foum Toub
    Foum Toub is a town in northeastern Algeria....

  22. Ghassira
    Ghassira
    Ghassira is a town in Batna Province, northeastern Algeria. One of its most famous and most influential men was called Sheikh Mohammad Yekken Al Ghassiri . He was one of the founders of the 'Jameya el Oulema'...

  23. Chemora
    Chemora
    Chemora is a town in northeastern Algeria....

  24. Gosbat
    Gosbat
    Gosbat is a town in northeastern Algeria....

  25. Guigba
  26. Hayat
  27. Hidoussa
    Hidoussa
    Hidoussa is a town in northeastern Algeria....

  28. Ichmoul
    Ichmoul
    Ichmoul is a town in northeastern Algeria....

  29. Inoughissen
    Inoughissen
    Inoughissen is a town in northeastern Algeria....

  30. Kimmel
    Kimmel, Algeria
    Kimmel, Algeria is a town in northeastern Algeria....

  31. Ksar Bellezma
    Ksar Bellezma
    Ksar Bellezma is a town in northeastern Algeria....

  32. Larbaâ
  33. Lazrou
  34. Lemsane
    Lemsane
    Lemsane is a town in northeastern Algeria....

  35. Maâfa
    Maâfa
    Maafa, Algeria is a town in northeastern Algeria....

  36. Menaâ
    Menaâ
    Menaa is a town in northeastern Algeria....

  37. Merouana
    Merouana
    Merouana city in Algeria is under the jurisdiction of the Batna Province; it is 40 km from Batna City. The Chawi is one of the most indigenous populations, the name means cowboys and shepherds. Merouana is one of the oldest daïras in the nation...

  38. Metkaouak
    Metkaouak
    Metkaouak is a town in northeastern Algeria....

  39. N'Gaous
    N'Gaous
    N'Gaous is a town in northeastern Algeria....

  40. Nouader
    Nouader
    Nouader is a town in northeastern Algeria....

  41. Oued Chaaba
    Oued Chaaba
    Oued Chaaba is a town in northeastern Algeria....

  42. Oued El Ma
    Oued El Ma
    Oued El Ma is a town in northeastern Algeria....

  43. Oued Taga
    Oued Taga
    Oued Taga is a town in northeastern Algeria....

  44. Ouled Ammar
    Ouled Ammar
    Ouled Ammar is a town in northeastern Algeria....

  45. Ouled Aouf
    Ouled Aouf
    Ouled Aouf is a town in northeastern Algeria....

  46. Ouled Fadel
    Ouled Fadel
    Ouled Fadel is a town in northeastern Algeria....

  47. Ouled Sellam
    Ouled Sellam
    Ouled Sellam is a county "Commune" in northeastern Algeria, about 70km on the RN77 way north-west of Batna province by the borders with "Setif". The town is called M'cil, where the local council and schools are, also a hospital and a stadium....

  48. Ouled Si Slimane
    Ouled Si Slimane
    Ouled Si Slimane is a town in northeastern Algeria....

  49. Ouyoun El Assafir
    Ouyoun El Assafir
    Ouyoun El Assafir is a town in the Batna Province, in northeastern Algeria....

  50. Rahbat
  51. Ras Ei Aioun
    Ras Ei Aioun
    Ras Ei Aioun is a town in northeastern Algeria....

  52. Sefiane
    Sefiane
    Sefiane is a town in northeastern Algeria....

  53. Seggana
    Seggana
    Seggana is a town in northeastern Algeria....

  54. Seriana
    Seriana
    Seriana is a town in Batna Province, Algeria, at . In the colonial period, it was called Pasteur.An arms factory, the Entreprise des Réalisations Industrielles de Seriana, is located there. Khaled Nezzar was born in the area....

  55. Talkhamt
    Talkhamt
    Talkhamt is a town in northeastern Algeria....

  56. Taxlent
    Taxlent
    Taxlent is a town in northeastern Algeria....

  57. Tazoult
  58. Teniet El Abed
    Teniet El Abed
    Teniet El Abed is a town in northeastern Algeria....

  59. Tighanimine
    Tighanimine
    Tighanimine is a town in northeastern Algeria....

  60. Tigherghar
    Tigherghar
    Tigherghar is a town in northeastern Algeria....

  61. Tilatou
    Tilatou
    Tilatou is a town in northeastern Algeria....

  62. Timgad
    Timgad
    Timgad , called Thamugas or Tamugadi in old Berber) was a Roman colonial town in the Aures mountain- numidia Algeria founded by the Emperor Trajan around 100 AD. The full name of the town was Colonia Marciana Ulpia Traiana Thamugadi...

  63. Tkoutt
  64. Zanat El Beida
    Zanat El Beida
    Zanat El Beida is a town in northeastern Algeria....



Geography

The origins of the name of the city and province of Batna are not clear, but most historians agree that it is of Arabic origin: m'batna, meaning: "Where we sleep this night". Capital of high lands situated between north and south Atlas Mountains
Atlas Mountains
The Atlas Mountains is a mountain range across a northern stretch of Africa extending about through Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. The highest peak is Toubkal, with an elevation of in southwestern Morocco. The Atlas ranges separate the Mediterranean and Atlantic coastlines from the Sahara Desert...

 constitute a naturally protected passage between south and north. Its climate is moderate, hot and dry during summer time, due to its altitude (it being 800 metres above sea level) the winter is tough, snowy and at times cold (with temperatures of -15°C recorded on some cold winter nights). This geo-political position is the origin of the last economy merging city due to a high commercial exchange rate between the north's seaward opening, and the south's source of all the wealth of the country (including reserves of oil
Oil
An oil is any substance that is liquid at ambient temperatures and does not mix with water but may mix with other oils and organic solvents. This general definition includes vegetable oils, volatile essential oils, petrochemical oils, and synthetic oils....

, natural gas
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...

, iron
Iron
Iron is a chemical element with the symbol Fe and atomic number 26. It is a metal in the first transition series. It is the most common element forming the planet Earth as a whole, forming much of Earth's outer and inner core. It is the fourth most common element in the Earth's crust...

 and many minerals).

Population

Batna City is the fourth largest Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...

n city in terms of population; The number of permanent inhabitants is estimated by the Office National de Recencement at 446,000 (as of 2000), though other sources closer to the province estimate closer to one million. A large part of the population is largely mixed from all surrounding villages which suffer from a heavy unemployment and isolation. The natives are named "Tamazight", or in the local dialect: "Chaouyas", (the plural of Chaoui). The presence of the Tamazight is historically established; the locals refer to "Jugurtha", "Massinissa" and especially "Dihya" or so called "Kahina", as their ascendants and history. The local resistance to the repetitive invasions is a source of proud and trivial culture; Phoenicians, Romans
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....

, Arabs and French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...

. The word "Tamazight" in Chaoui (Berbère) language means "Free men". As opposed to the surrounding villages (e.g. Arris, Fesdis, Ain Yagout, Kais, N'gaous, Merouana, Djerma, El Madher) where you can find pure chaoui, the city of Batna itself is very heterogeneous, including chaoui from Batna (like Ouled Sidi Yahia,ouled boujamâa), Biskra and Khenchla but also many non-berber or mixed families from the Algerian desert (from Oued Souf, Tougourt, Msila, Ouled Jelle, Ouled Nail..etc)and other places from the west, explaining the fact that the city is mostly arabophon.

Economy

The economy is based on heavy industry launched during the first half of the 1970s. With chemicals, as well as with an industrial
Industry
Industry refers to the production of an economic good or service within an economy.-Industrial sectors:There are four key industrial economic sectors: the primary sector, largely raw material extraction industries such as mining and farming; the secondary sector, involving refining, construction,...

 and textile
Textile
A textile or cloth is a flexible woven material consisting of a network of natural or artificial fibres often referred to as thread or yarn. Yarn is produced by spinning raw fibres of wool, flax, cotton, or other material to produce long strands...

 base, the region attracts people from the whole region. The city offers a large choice of university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...

 orientation (15,000 students in 2001). The city urban structure is based on the old town buildings, narrow and highly populated; the actual city expansion policy is based on heavy works done the surrounding mountain flanks to provide enough buildable space.

Life level

The rapid expansion of the city on the last 10 years is mainly due to the open market policy of the previous government, which was a benefit for many, but in the same way penalized many of the middle-class.

The continuously growing city results in an extreme level of inflation especially on the real estate domain where prices reach extreme levels (for example, ownership of one square meter of land in the city center costs $1000) where the lowest paid salaries are in the region of $180.

Social life

The cultural aspect of the city was active during a time when the local theater group was giving continuous and innovating performances. The city consisted of 12 cinemas and 2 "cinemathèques", one culture house and many open museums across the province. Due to recent events, security problems and an influx of population into the city, the cultural life has been heavily affected, though recently, thanks to the work of young artists, culture is once again on the public scene.
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