Tlemcen Province

Tlemcen Province
Arabic: ولاية تلمسان
Tamazight: ⵜⴰⵡⵉⵍⴰⵢⵜ ⵏ ⵜⵍⴻⵎⵙⵉⵏ
Province
Moscarda Beach in Marsa Ben M'Hidi
Moscarda Beach in Marsa Ben M'Hidi
Map of Algeria highlighting Tlemcen
Map of Algeria highlighting Tlemcen
Coordinates: 34°53′N 01°19′W / 34.883°N 1.317°W / 34.883; -1.317
Country Algeria
CapitalTlemcen
Area
 • Total
9,061 km2 (3,498 sq mi)
Population
 (2008)[1]
 • Total
945,525
 • Density104.4/km2 (270.3/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01 (CET)
Area Code+213 (0) 43
ISO 3166 codeDZ-13
Districts20
Municipalities54

Tlemcen (Arabic: ولاية تلمسان, Tamazight: ⵜⴰⵡⵉⵍⴰⵢⵜ ⵏ ⵜⵍⴻⵎⵙⵉⵏ) is a province (wilaya) in northwestern Algeria. It is located southwest of Oran. According to the 2008 census, the province has a population of 945,525.[2]

Geography

Tlemcen Province lies among the Tlemcen Mountains and the Trara Mountains. The province is home to a set of agricultural plains located in its southern and western parts. The Algerian Steppes run through its south.[3] Located in northwestern Algeria, it has an area of 9,017.69 km2.[3] It is bordered by Morocco to the west, Naama to the south, Sidi-Bel-Abbes to the east, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north. It has a Mediterranean coastline of about 120 kilometers.

Forestry

Tlemcen Province has a forest cover of 225,000 ha, consisting of forest, scrub, and brush.[3] With an afforestation rate of 24%, the province is considered to have a forestry vocation. However, forest cover is unevenly distributed; more than 80% of silvicultural potential is concentrated in the Tlemcen Mountains.

The main forests are dominated by aleppo pines, holm oaks, thujas, junipers, cork oaks, and various other tree species. The most forested municipalities, with forest cover ranging from a third to two thirds of their territory, are located in the western parts of Tlemcen Mountains. (Beni Boussaid, Beni Snous, Beni Bahdel, Azails, Bouhlou)[3]

Climate

The province is dominated by a Mediteranean climate throughout its land mass with hot summers and cool/dry winters.[4] However, Tlemcen Province also includes two small pockets of semi-arid climates, one hot and the other cold. Rainfall is generally subject to inter-annual irregularity.[4]

History

The Tlemcen Mountains

Near the end of the 2nd century, the Romans founded the ancient military outpost of Pomaria on the present-day location of Tlemcen. Over time, the region became the center of a large Christian population lasting up to the Arab invasions. By the 7th century, Islam was introduced into the region via Abu al-Muhajir Dinar, and the city of Agadir took Pomaria's place.[5]

The region then experienced the reigns of the Almoravid and Almohad dynasties respectively.[6] After the collapse of the Almohad dynasty, the Zayyanid dynasty, who ruled the Kingdom of Tlemcen, began their reign over the region. Shortly after, they made Tlemcen their capital.[7] When the Zayyanids collapsed, the region became attached to the Regency of Algiers.

At the start of the French conquest of Algeria, the Treaty of Tafna in 1837 elected Emir Abdelkader as the governor of Tlemcen and surrounding areas.[8] After the Algerian War, the province was created from the French Oran Department in 1974.

Economy

Agla Beach, Honaïne, in Tlemcen Province

Agriculture is an important economic sector in the province. The plains of Maghnia, Remchi, Hennaya, and the basins of Beni Ouarsous are the main producers of agricultural products such as potatoes, fruits, cereals, vegetables, et ceteta. The province is known for the manufacturing of textiles, leather, carpet, cement, and fuel in major cities such as Tlemcen.[9] The Souk Tleta Seawater Desalination Plant was inaugurated in April 2011 by the Ministry of Water Resources for President Abdelaziz Boutefilka's visit to Tlemcen.[10]

With a coastline overlooking the Mediterranean, the province has experienced a resurgence of tourist activity since the 2000s due to the creation of tourist complexes on the province's beaches. In 2012, the province had fifty-eight hotels and 1,896 rooms within them combined.[11]

Administrative divisions

Organization of Tlemcen Province

The province is divided into 20 districts (daïras) which have existed since independence in 1962:

Districts

  1. Aïn Talout
  2. Bab El Assa
  3. Bensekrane
  4. Béni Boussaïd
  5. Béni Snous
  6. Chatouane
  7. Felaoucene
  8. Ghazaouet
  9. Hennaya
  10. Houanaine District (Honaine)
  11. Maghnia
  12. Mansourah
  13. Marsa Ben M'Hidi
  14. Nedroma
  15. Ouled Mimoun
  16. Remchi
  17. Sabra
  18. Sebdou
  19. Sidi Djillali
  20. Tlemcen

Communes

  1. Ain Fetah (Ain Fettah)
  2. Ain Fezza
  3. Ain Ghoraba
  4. Ain Kebira
  5. Ain Nehala
  6. Ain Tellout (Ain Tallout)
  7. Ain Youcef
  8. Amieur
  9. Azails
  10. Bab El Assa
  11. Beni Bahdel
  12. Beni Boussaid
  13. Beni Khellad (Formerly Souk El Khemis)
  14. Beni Mester
  15. Beni Ouarsous
  16. Beni Smiel (Beni Semiel)
  17. Beni Snous
  18. Bensekrane
  19. Bouhlou
  20. Chetouane
  21. Dar Yaghmoricene (Dar Yaghmouracene)
  22. Djebala
  23. El Aricha
  24. El Bouihi (Bouihi)
  25. El Fehoul
  26. El Gor
  27. Fellaoucene
  28. Ghazaouet
  29. Hammam Boughrara
  30. Hennaya
  31. Honaine (Houanaine)
  32. Maghnia
  33. Mansourah
  34. Marsa Ben Mhidi (Marsa Ben M'Hidi)
  35. Msirda Fouaga
  36. Nedroma
  37. Oued Chouli (Oued Chouly)
  38. Ouled Mimoun
  39. Ouled Riyah
  40. Remchi
  41. Sabra
  42. Sebaa Chioukh (Sebbaa Chioukh)
  43. Sebdou
  44. Sidi Abdelli
  45. Sidi Djilali (Sidi Djillali)
  46. Sidi Medjahed
  47. Souahlia
  48. Souani
  49. Souk Thlata (Souk Tleta, Souk Tlata)
  50. Terni Beni Hediel (Terny Beni Hediel, Tirni Beni Hediel)
  51. Tianet
  52. Tlemcen
  53. Zeralda Forest
  54. Zenata

References

  1. ↑ Office National des Statistiques, Recensement General de la Population et de l’Habitat 2008 Archived 2008-07-24 at the Wayback Machine Preliminary results of the 2008 population census. Accessed on 2008-07-02.
  2. ↑ "Population résidente des ménages ordinaires et collectifs (MOC) selon la wilaya de résidence et le sexe et le taux d'accroissement annuel moyen (1998- 2008)" (PDF). 2008.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "FM ALGERIA technical report". archive.wikiwix.com. Retrieved 2026-08-05. {{cite web}}: |archive-url= requires |archive-date= (help)
  4. 1 2 "Climat Tlemcen: Température Tlemcen, diagramme climatique pour Tlemcen". fr.climate-data.org (in French). Archived from the original on 2024-11-15. Retrieved 2026-08-05.
  5. ↑ Bel, Alfred & Yalaoui, M. (2000). "Tilimsān". In Bearman, P. J.; Bianquis, Th.; Bosworth, C. E.; van Donzel, E. & Heinrichs, W. P. (eds.). The Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition. Volume X: T–U. Leiden: E. J. Brill. pp. 498–299. ISBN 978-90-04-11211-7.
  6. ↑ M. Bloom, Jonathan; S. Blair, Sheila, eds. (2009). "Tlemcen". The Grove Encyclopedia of Islamic Art and Architecture. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780195309911.
  7. ↑ L'invention d'une capitale : Tlemcen : (VIIe-XIIIe/IXe-XVe siècle) (in French). Éditions de la Sorbonne. ISBN 979-10-351-0683-6. Archived from the original on 2023-05-14. Retrieved 2023-05-14.
  8. ↑ McDougall, James (2017). A History of Algeria (1 ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 59–68, 70–73, 81. ISBN 978-1-139-02923-0.
  9. ↑ "Tlemcen, Tlemcen Province Algeria — Quick Facts and Map". World and City Maps. 2026-06-16. Retrieved 2026-08-05.
  10. ↑ "Inauguration of a Souk Tleta station". www.lemidi-dz.com. 21 April 2011. Archived from the original on 4 October 2025. Retrieved 2026-08-05.
  11. ↑ "Wikiwix Archives". archive.wikiwix.com. Retrieved 2026-08-05.
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