Biskra

Biskra, Algeria بسكرة، الجزائر
City
Biskra skyline
Biskra, Algeria Location in Algeria
Coordinates: 34°51′N 5°44′E / 34.850°N 5.733°E / 34.850; 5.733
Country	Algeria
Province	Biskra Province
District	Biskra District
Area
• Total	127.55 km2 (49.25 sq mi)
Elevation	87 m (285 ft)
Population (2007)
• Total	307,987
• Density	2,400/km2 (6,300/sq mi)
Time zone	+1 (UTC+1)
Postal code	07000

Coordinates: 34°51′N 5°44′E / 34.850°N 5.733°E / 34.850; 5.733 Biskra (Arabic: بسكرة ‎; Berber: Tibeskert) is the capital city of Biskra province, Algeria. In 2007, its population was recorded as 307,987.

History

Dancer in Biskra, published in March 1917 National Geographic.

During Roman times the town was called Vescera,^[1] though this may have been simply a Latin transliteration of the native name. Around 200 AD under Septimius Severus' reign, it was seized by the Romans and became part of the province of Numidia. As a major settlement in the border region, it was significant even then. Its name was apparently bowdlerized by the Romans to Ad Piscīnam ("at the piscīna"), implying the presence of important waterworks.^[1]

In 1844, Biskra became a French garrison.^[2] As of 1935, Biskra was an inland town, the principal settlement of a Saharan oasis watered by the intermittent Oued Biskra. In 1911, it was described as the Nice, France of Algiers.^[1] It is in the southern part of the Algerian rail system, and a favourite winter resort. Large quantities of fruit, especially dates and olives, were grown in the vicinity.^[1] The town was a military post, and was the scene of severe fighting in the rebellions of 1849 and 1871.

City Hall of Biskra, with the modern coat of arms visible at center-right

With January temperatures averaging 11 °C, Biskra is a common holiday spot in winter. Located in northeastern Algeria on the northern edge of the Sahara Desert, the area surrounding it is very arid and most of the population lives in oasis.

In culture

Biskra is the setting of key sections of André Gide's 1902 novel The Immoralist and lesser known 1897 prose-poem Les nourritures terrestres (The Fruits of the Earth), and he visited the town in 1895 (for a fortnight from 31 January) with Lord Alfred Douglas, following a meeting with Oscar Wilde in Blida and Algiers.

The Hungarian composer Béla Bartók collected traditional music in Biskra in 1913.

Diana Mayo, protagonist of Edith Maude Hull's popular 1919 novel The Sheik, starts her journey into the desert from Biskra.

Population

Climate

Biskra has a hot desert climate (Köppen climate classification BWh), with very hot summers and mild winters. Summers are dry, and the town's light rainfall of 129 millimetres (5.1 in) is spread fairly evenly over the rest of the year.

References

• This article incorporates text from The Modern World Encyclopædia: Illustrated (1935); out of UK copyright as of 2005.

External links

•  Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Biskra". Encyclopædia Britannica 4 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 4–5. 
• (French) Biskra City

Provincial seats of Algeria Adrar Aïn Defla Aïn Témouchent Algiers Annaba Batna Béchar Béjaïa Biskra Blida Bordj Bou Arréridj Bouïra Boumerdès Chlef Constantine Djelfa El Bayadh El Oued El Taref Ghardaïa Guelma Illizi Jijel Khenchela Laghouat Mascara Médéa Mila Mostaganem M'Sila Naâma Oran Ouargla Oum El Bouaghi Relizane Saida Sétif Sidi Bel Abbès Skikda Souk Ahras Tamanrasset Tébessa Tiaret Tindouf Tipasa Tissemsilt Tizi Ouzou Tlemcen

Biskra Province Capital: Biskra Districts Biskra Djemourah Foughala El Kantara El Outaya M'Chouneche Ouled Djellal Ourlal Sidi Khaled Sidi Okba Tolga Zeribet El Oued Communes Aïn Naga Aïn Zaatout Biskra Bordj Ben Azzouz Bouchagroune Branis Chetma Djemorah Doucen El Feidh El Ghrous El Hadjeb El Haouch El Kantara El Outaya Foughala Khenguet Sidi Nadjil Lichana Lioua M'Chouneche Mekhadma Meziraa M'Lili Ouled Djellal Ouled Harkat Ouled Rahma Ouled Sassi Oumache Ourlala Sidi Khaled Sidi Okba Tolga Zeribet El Oued

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