Adrar (Berber: ⴰⴷⵔⴰⵔ 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. According to a 2008 census, it has a population of 64,781, up from 43,903 in 1998, with an annual growth rate of 4.0%. Adrar is mainly an agricultural town, characterized by its traditional irrigation system, the Foggara.

History

Adrar is located in the Touat region, which was historically an important trade region for caravans crossing the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Around the 17th century, the Adrar area became part of Morocco, remaining so for about three hundred years. The oasis was captured by the French from Moroccan forces in 1900. In 1906, the city was founded by the French. Since Algerian independence, the city has witnessed much growth due to infrastructure, social, and housing projects.

Geography

Adrar lies at an elevation of 258 m above sea level. A large oasis lies to the southwest 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.

Climate

Adrar has a hot desert climate (Köppen climate classification BWh), with severely long and hot summers and short, mild winters, and averages just 15 mm of rainfall per year. Summer temperatures are consistently high as they commonly approach 46°C (114 °F). temperatures at night are still hot at around 27 °C (81 °F). Even in early May or in late August, daytime temperatures can rise to 48 °C (118 °F). Winter nights can be chilly and frost is by no means unknown but the days are pleasantly warm, sunny and dry. During the summer, the Sahara region of Algeria is the source of a scorching, sometimes dusty and southerly wind called the Sirocco. These winds parch the plateaus of northern Algeria up to 40 days and reach the Tell coastal region for as many as 20 days.

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.

Transportation

Touat Cheikh Sidi Mohamed Belkebir Airport (or simply Adrar Airport) is located 10 kilometers away from center 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.

Demographics

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: