Belezma Range#Belezma Plain

The ridge is roughly aligned in an E-W direction. It is located at the western end of the Aurès Range, with the Hodna Mountains to the west. The highest peak, at {{convert|2,178| meters}}, is the Djebel Refâa. Other important peaks are {{convert|2,136|m|adj=on}} high Djebel Tichaou and {{convert|2,090|m}} Djebel Touggourt (meaning 'Cedar Peak').

The Belezma Range has one of the most important natural Atlas Cedar forests of Algeria. It is qualified as a 'dry facies'{{clarify|date=May 2021}} pure forest owing to its location and the influence of the large deserts nearby, being located only {{convert|40|km}} north of the El Kantara gorges, and there has been a high mortality of the trees in recent times.[http://en.calameo.com/read/0021468301c7ed755d21a Briki Athmane, Mortalité du cèdre de l'Atlas dans la région des Aurès]

The Belezma mountains have been traditionally inhabited by the Houaras Chaoui people. There is very low population density in the area and villages are few.{{citation needed|date=February 2016}}

The Belezma Plain ({{langx|fr|Plaine de Belezma}}) is an elevated intermontane basin located to the Northwest between the area of the National Park and Mount Mestaoua. Its main town is Merouana at {{convert|1,012|m}} over sea level. The plain is one of the most fertile areas in the region and has traditionally been a granary for the local population. Mount Mestaoua, a veritable natural fortress, is a historical oppidum.{{citation needed|date=February 2016}}

==History==

The Ksar of Belezma ({{coord|35.676402|5.902405|format=dms}}) to the north of the range is the site of an ancient Byzantine fortress. The now ruined structure was once used as an observation outpost by the Muslim and Arab dynasties that followed the Byzantine domination.

This massif was the last refuge of Abu Yazid before his death.{{cite book | last = Conant | first = Jonathan | title = Staying Roman : conquest and identity in Africa and the Mediterranean, 439-700 | publisher = Cambridge University Press | location = Cambridge New York | year = 2012 | isbn = 0521196973 | pages = 280–281}}

{{main|Belezma National Park}}

The Belezma National Park is a protected area on the slopes of the range. It is one of the most important national parks of Algeria.[http://traveltoalgeria.weebly.com/belezma-national-park.html Belezma National Park - Travel to Algeria]

==See also==

• Geography of Algeria
• Aures region

{{Reflist}}

• {{Commonscat inline|Belezma Range}}

{{Mountains of Algeria |state=collapsed}}

Category:Mountain ranges of the Atlas Mountains

Category:Mountain ranges of Algeria

Category:Geography of Batna Province

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