Adrar, Algeria

🇩🇿 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. It has an annual growth rate of 4.0%.

Adrar is mainly an agricultural town, characterised by its traditional irrigation system, the Foggara.

History It was captured by French forces in 1900. The province was created from parts of the Oasis Province  and Saoura Province  in 1974.

Geography Adrar lies at an elevation of 258 metres (846 ft) above sea level. A large oasis lies to the south-west 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.

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.

Transport Touat Cheikh Sidi Mohamed Belkebir Airport (or simply Adrar Airport) is located 10 km away from centre 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.

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).

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.

Communes The district is further divided into 3 communes: • Adrar • Bouda • Ouled Ahmed Timmi.

Districts 1 Adrar; 2 Aoulef; 3 Bordj Badji Mokhtar; 4 Fenoughil; 5 Reggane; 6 T'Sabit; 7 Zaouiet Kounta.