El Oued Province


El Oued is a Saharan province of Algeria dominated by Oued Souf. It was named after its eponymous capital. Notable towns include El Oued itself and El M'Ghair, Djamaa and Guemar.

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, 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. The most notable oases are the Oued Souf region, upon which the capital El Oued and neighbouring towns are built, as well as oases located near the towns of El M'Ghair and Djamaa, both of which support extensive palm plantations. Chott Melrhir, a large endorheic salt lake, lies in the north-central part of the province, while Chott Felrhir 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, Méguibra, Dendouga and Aïn Cheikh are also below sea level.

Climate

El Oued Province experiences a hot desert climate. 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 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, to the north by Khenchela Province, to the northwest by Biskra Province, to the south and southwest by Ouargla Province, to the southeast by Tunisia's Tataouine Governorate, and to the east by Tunisia's Tozeur and Kebili Governorates.

Administrative divisions

The province is made up of 12 districts, which are divided into 30 communes or municipalities.

Districts

  1. Bayadha
  2. Debila
  3. Djamaâ
  4. El M'Ghair
  5. El Oued
  6. Guemar
  7. Hassi Khelifa
  8. Magrane
  9. Mih Ouensa
  10. Reguiba
  11. Robbah
  12. Taleb Larbi

    Communes

  13. Bayadha
  14. Ben Guecha
  15. Debila
  16. Djamaa
  17. Douar El Ma
  18. El Ogla
  19. El M'Ghair
  20. El Oued
  21. Guemar
  22. Hamraia
  23. Hassani Abdelkrim
  24. Hassi Khelifa
  25. Kouinine
  26. Magrane
  27. Mih Ouensa
  28. M'Rara
  29. Nakhla
  30. Oued El Alenda
  31. Oum Touyour
  32. Ourmes
  33. Reguiba
  34. Robbah
  35. Sidi Amrane
  36. Sidi Aoun
  37. Sidi Khellil
  38. Still
  39. Taghzout
  40. Taleb Larbi
  41. Tendla
  42. Trifaoui