Kerzaz
| Kerzaz آﺮزاز | |
|---|---|
|
View of Ougarta chains from Kerzaz | |
 Location of Kerzaz commune within Béchar Province | |
  Kerzaz Location of Kerzaz commune within Béchar Province | |
| Coordinates: 29°27′N 1°25′W / 29.450°N 1.417°WCoordinates: 29°27′N 1°25′W / 29.450°N 1.417°W | |
| Country | Algeria |
| Province | Béchar |
| Province | Kerzaz District |
| Area[1] | |
| • Total | 10,520 km2 (4,060 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 397 m (1,302 ft) |
| Population (2008)[2] | |
| • Total | 5,028 |
| Time zone | West Africa Time (UTC+1) |
Kerzaz (Arabic: آﺮزاز) is a town and commune, and capital of Kerzaz District, in Béchar Province, western Algeria. According to the 2008 census its population is 5,028,[2] up from 4,276 in 1998, [3] and its annual growth rate is 1.7%.[2] The commune covers an area of 10,520 square kilometres (4,060 sq mi).[1]
Geography
Kerzaz lies on the left (northeast) bank of the Oued Saoura in the Saoura valley. The Grand Erg Occidental, a large area of continuous sand dunes lies to the east, while the rocky ridges of the Ougarta Range rise to the west, running from northwest to southeast along the opposite side of the river from the town.
Climate
Kerzaz has a hot desert climate, with extremely hot summers and mild winters, and very little precipitation throughout the year.
| Climate data for Kerzaz | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 19.2 (66.6) |
22.3 (72.1) |
26.6 (79.9) |
31.5 (88.7) |
35.9 (96.6) |
41.6 (106.9) |
45.2 (113.4) |
43.5 (110.3) |
38.8 (101.8) |
31.5 (88.7) |
24.5 (76.1) |
18.7 (65.7) |
31.61 (88.9) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 11.6 (52.9) |
14.4 (57.9) |
18.7 (65.7) |
23.3 (73.9) |
27.7 (81.9) |
33.1 (91.6) |
36.6 (97.9) |
35.3 (95.5) |
31.1 (88) |
24.2 (75.6) |
17.6 (63.7) |
12.1 (53.8) |
23.81 (74.87) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 4 (39) |
6.6 (43.9) |
10.8 (51.4) |
15.1 (59.2) |
19.5 (67.1) |
24.6 (76.3) |
28 (82) |
27.1 (80.8) |
23.4 (74.1) |
16.9 (62.4) |
10.7 (51.3) |
5.6 (42.1) |
16.02 (60.8) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 5 (0.2) |
5 (0.2) |
8 (0.31) |
3 (0.12) |
2 (0.08) |
0 (0) |
1 (0.04) |
1 (0.04) |
2 (0.08) |
5 (0.2) |
7 (0.28) |
6 (0.24) |
45 (1.79) |
| Source: climate-data.org[4] | |||||||||||||
Economy
Agriculture is the main industry in Kerzaz. The commune has a total of 541 hectares (1,340 acres) of arable land, of which 332 hectares (820 acres) is irrigated.[5] There are a total of 63,570 date palms planted in the commune.[6] As of 2009 there were 1,145 sheep, 575 goats, 228 camels, and 20 cattle.[7]
Infrastructure and housing
95% of Kerzaz's population is connected to drinking water,[8] 95% is connected to the sewerage system,[9] and 87% (including 1,161 buildings) have access to electricity.[10] There is one fuel service station in the town.[11]
Kerzaz has a total of 840 houses, of which 680 are occupied, giving an occupation rate of 7.4 inhabitants per occupied building.[12]
Transportation
Kerzaz is on the N6 national highway between Béchar to the northwest and Adrar to the southeast. Towns accessible to the north via the N6 include Béni Ikhlef, El Ouata, Béni Abbès and Igli, while to the south the towns of Timoudi, Ouled Khoudir and Ksabi can be accessed.
There is a total length of 42.6 kilometres (26.5 mi) of roads in the commune.[13]
Education
There are 4 elementary schools, with 34 classrooms including 20 in use.[14] There are a total of 1,076 school students.[15]
4.9% of the population has a tertiary education, and another 18.7% has competed secondary education.[16] The overall literacy rate is 78.5%, and is 90.7% among males and 66.9% among females.[17]
Health
Kerzaz has 2 polyclinics, 2 room care facilities, and a maternity ward.[18]
Religion
Kerzaz has 3 operational mosques, with another 1 under construction.[19]
Localities
The commune is composed of three localities:[20]
- Kerzaz Megsem
- Zaouia el Kbira
- Kerzaz Ksar
Kerzaz Megsem is at the location where the N6 highway departs from the Oued Saoura and enters the Ougarta Range. Kerzaz Ksar is slightly downstream, while Zaouia el Kbira is 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) upstream.
References
- 1 2 "Population, Area and Density per Commune" (in French). Official Website of the Wilaya of Bechar. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
- 1 2 3 "Population: Béchar Wilaya" (PDF) (in French). Office National des Statistiques Algérie. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
- ↑ "Algeria Communes". Statoids. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
- ↑ "Climate data for: Kerzaz". climate-data.org. Retrieved 10 March 2013.
- ↑ "Distribution of Agricultural Land" (in French). Official Website of the Wilaya of Bechar. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
- ↑ "Plant Productions" (in French). Official Website of the Wilaya of Bechar. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
- ↑ "Animal Production" (in French). Official Website of the Wilaya of Bechar. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
- ↑ "Drinking Water" (in French). Official Website of the Wilaya of Bechar. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
- ↑ "Sewerage Networks" (in French). Official Website of the Wilaya of Bechar. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
- ↑ "Electrification" (in French). Official Website of the Wilaya of Bechar. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
- ↑ "Fuel Distribution" (in French). Official Website of the Wilaya of Bechar. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
- ↑ "Housing" (in French). Official Website of the Wilaya of Bechar. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
- ↑ "Density Kilometres" (in French). Official Website of the Wilaya of Bechar. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
- ↑ "School Infrastructure" (in French). Official Website of the Wilaya of Bechar. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
- ↑ "Number of Pupils" (in French). Official Website of the Wilaya of Bechar. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
- ↑ "Structure relative de la population résidente des ménages ordinaires et collectifs âgée de 6 ans et plus selon le niveau d'instruction et la commune de résidence." (PDF) (in French). Office National des Statistiques Algérie. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
- ↑ "Taux d'analphabétisme et taux d'alphabétisation de la population âgée de 15 ans et plus, selon le sexe et la commune de résidence ." (PDF) (in French). Office National des Statistiques Algérie. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
- ↑ "Health Facilities by Commune" (in French). Official Website of the Wilaya of Bechar. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
- ↑ "Mosques and Koranic Rooms" (in French). Official Website of the Wilaya of Bechar. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
- ↑ "Décret n° 84-365, fixant la composition, la consistance et les limites territoriale des communes. Wilaya d'El Oued" (PDF) (in French). Journal officiel de la République Algérienne,. 19 December 1984. p. 1490. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 March 2013 or before. Retrieved 2 March 2013. Check date values in:
|archive-date=(help)
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Béni Abbès El Ouata Béni Ikhlef Zaouia el Kbira |
Bechar Taghit |
Grand Erg Occidental | |
| Tabelbala Tindouf |
 |
Grand Erg Occidental | ||
| ||||
 | ||||
| Ougarta Range | Ougarta Range Sebkhel el Melah |
Timoudi Ouled Khoudir Ksabi Adrar |
Capital: Béchar | ||
| Béchar District |  | |
| Abadla District | ||
| Béni Abbès District | ||
| Béni Ounif District | ||
| El Ouata District | ||
| Igli District | ||
| Kénadsa District | ||
| Kerzaz District | ||
| Lahmar District | ||
| Ouled Khodeïr District | ||
| Tabelbala District | ||
| Taghit District | ||
