Biskra

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Biskra
بسكرة (Arabic)
City
Biskra skyline
Biskra skyline
DZ-07 Biskra.svg
Biskra is located in Algeria
Biskra
Biskra
Location in Algeria
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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

Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.Biskra (Arabic: بسكرة ‎‎; Berber: Biskra in Tifinagh.svg Tibeskert) is the capital city of Biskra Province, Algeria. In 2007, its population was recorded as 307,987.

History

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] A significant portion of the inhabitants descend from the Arab bedouin tribe of Banu Hilal,[2] others are mainly Chaoui Berbers.

In 1844, Biskra became a French garrison.[3] 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.

In 11th, Fatimids send Banu Hilal in Tripolitania, Tunisia and Constantine area against Zirids.

Culture

The inhabitants are also Ouled Naïl or Chaamba living in Biskra, M'Sila and in Saharan Atlas.

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

Historical population
Year Population[4]
1901 7,500
1911 20,000
1926 22,000
1931 18,900
1936 21,300
1948 36,400
1954 52,500
1966 59,300
1977 77,000 (town)
90,500 (municipality)
1987 128,300
1998 177,600
2010 300,000

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. 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.

Climate data for Biskra
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 26.0
(78.8)		 36.2
(97.2)		 36.0
(96.8)		 38.5
(101.3)		 45.3
(113.5)		 47.0
(116.6)		 48.4
(119.1)		 47.4
(117.3)		 44.4
(111.9)		 40.5
(104.9)		 36.0
(96.8)		 30.6
(87.1)		 48.4
(119.1)
Average high °C (°F) 16.7
(62.1)		 19.1
(66.4)		 22.6
(72.7)		 26.1
(79)		 31.3
(88.3)		 37
(99)		 40.2
(104.4)		 39.6
(103.3)		 34.3
(93.7)		 28.3
(82.9)		 21.6
(70.9)		 17.5
(63.5)		 27.86
(82.18)
Daily mean °C (°F) 11.8
(53.2)		 13.7
(56.7)		 16.4
(61.5)		 19.9
(67.8)		 24.8
(76.6)		 29.9
(85.8)		 33.2
(91.8)		 32.8
(91)		 28.2
(82.8)		 22.3
(72.1)		 16.3
(61.3)		 12.5
(54.5)		 21.82
(71.26)
Average low °C (°F) 6.9
(44.4)		 8.6
(47.5)		 11.4
(52.5)		 14.6
(58.3)		 19.4
(66.9)		 24.3
(75.7)		 27.4
(81.3)		 27.3
(81.1)		 23.2
(73.8)		 17.9
(64.2)		 12.1
(53.8)		 8.1
(46.6)		 16.77
(62.18)
Record low °C (°F) −5.0
(23)		 −0.5
(31.1)		 1.3
(34.3)		 3.0
(37.4)		 7.0
(44.6)		 11.0
(51.8)		 16.1
(61)		 15.1
(59.2)		 11.0
(51.8)		 9.0
(48.2)		 0.5
(32.9)		 −1.0
(30.2)		 −5
(23)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 17.4
(0.685)		 10.2
(0.402)		 13.6
(0.535)		 13.1
(0.516)		 11.1
(0.437)		 5.1
(0.201)		 1.7
(0.067)		 5.7
(0.224)		 10.4
(0.409)		 11.3
(0.445)		 20.1
(0.791)		 9.1
(0.358)		 128.8
(5.07)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) 3.7 3.2 3.5 3.3 2.8 2.3 0.6 1.6 3.2 3.8 3.8 3.7 35.5
Average relative humidity (%) 58.0 49.7 43.7 40.5 34.8 29.3 26.5 30.1 41.3 48.1 55.0 60.7 43.14
Source #1: WMO[5]
Source #2: NOAA (mean temperatures, 1965-1990),[6] climatebase.ru (extremes, humidity)[7]

References

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External links

Media related to Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. at Wikimedia Commons

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  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ populstat.info
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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