Ouargla Province

Ouargla Province ولاية ورقلة
—  Province  —
Map of Algeria highlighting Ouargla
Coordinates: 31°57′N 5°19′E / 31.95°N 5.317°E / 31.95; 5.317Coordinates: 31°57′N 5°19′E / 31.95°N 5.317°E / 31.95; 5.317
Country	Algeria
Capital	Ouargla
Government
– PPA president
– Wāli
Area
– Total	211,980 km2 (81,845.9 sq mi)
Population (2008)[1]
– Total	552,539
– Density	2.6/km2 (6.8/sq mi)
Time zone	CET (UTC+01)
Area Code	+213 (0) 32
ISO 3166 code	DZ-30
Districts	10
Municipalities	21

Ouargla or Warqla (Arabic: ولاية ورقلة‎) is a province (wilaya) in eastern Algeria. Its capital is Ouargla. Other localities include Temacine, Touggourt, and Hassi Messaoud. It contains the Issaouane Erg desert.

History

In the past Ouargla was the center of trading of gold and slaves,^{[citation needed]} as well as being an important center of the Kharijite sect Ibadi. However, the Ibadis are these days gone to the M'zab valley.

Administrative divisions

The province is divided into 10 districts (daïras), which are further divided into 21 communes or municipalities.

Districts

1. El Borma
2. El Hadjira
3. Hassi Messaoud
4. Mégarine
5. N'Goussa
6. Ouargla
7. Sidi Khouiled
8. Taïbet
9. Témacine
10. Touggourt

Communes

1. Ain Beida
2. Balidat Ameur
3. Benaceur
4. El Allia
5. El Borma
6. El Hadjira
7. Hassi Ben Abdellah
8. Hassi Messaoud
9. Mégarine
10. M'Naguer
11. Nezla
12. N'Goussa
13. Ouargla
14. Rouissat
15. Sidi Khouiled
16. Sidi Slimane
17. Taïbet
18. Témacine
19. Tebesbest
20. Touggourt
21. Zaouia El Abidia

References

1. ^ Office National des Statistiques, Recensement General de la Population et de l’Habitat 2008 Preliminary results of the 2008 population census. Accessed on 2008-07-02.