M'Sila, Algeria
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name = M'sila
|other_name =
|native_name = {{lang|ar|المسيلة}}
|nickname =
|settlement_type = city
|motto =
|image_skyline = M'sila Eucalyptus.jpg
|imagesize =
|image_caption = Overview of M'sila
|image_flag =
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|image_seal =
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|image_map = DZ- 28 - M'Sila.svg
|mapsize = 180px
|map_caption =
|pushpin_map = Algeria
|pushpin_label_position = bottom
|pushpin_mapsize=300
|pushpin_map_caption =
|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name ={{flag|Algeria}}
|subdivision_type1 = Province
|subdivision_name1 =M'Sila Province
|subdivision_type2 = District
|subdivision_name2 =M'Sila District
|subdivision_type3 =
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|population_as_of = 2008 census
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|population_note =
|population_total = 132975
|population_density_km2 = auto
|timezone = CET
|utc_offset = +1
|coordinates = {{coord|35|42|7|N|4|32|49|E|display=inline}}
|elevation_footnotes =
|elevation_m = 471
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M'sila (also spelled Msila) ({{langx|ar|المسيلة}}); is the capital of M'Sila Province, Algeria, and is co-extensive with M'sila District. It has a population of 132,975 as per the 2008 census.{{Cite web|url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/algeria/cities/|title=Algeria: Provinces & Major Cities - Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web Information}} M'sila University is also located in this city.
History
The city was founded {{circa|924}} under the name al-Muhammadiya, named after the second Fatimid caliph, al-Qa'im, during the latter's campaign against the rebellious Berber tribes of central Algeria. Meant to cement Fatimid control over the Hodna plain, the construction of the city was entrusted to Ali ibn Hamdun al-Andalusi, who became its first governor. Much building material for the new city was taken from a nearby ruined Roman city (likely Lambaesis or Timgad).{{Das Reich des Mahdi | page = 242}}
M'sila was the location of the first village constructed as part of a government-run program to transition nomadic Algerians to sedentary life using local materials. The village, now complete, was dubbed Maader and consists of houses, public and trading areas, and a mosque. Today it is much more developed with many companies, business offices, religious centers and schools.
Geography
=Climate=
M'sila has a cold semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification BSk). Rainfall is higher in winter than in summer. The average annual temperature in M'Sila is {{convert|15.8|°C|1}}. About {{convert|229|mm|2|abbr=on}} of precipitation falls annually.
{{Weather box
|width = auto
|location = M'Sila
|metric first = Y
|single line = Y
|Jan high C = 12.8
|Feb high C = 13.9
|Mar high C = 16.5
|Apr high C = 19.6
|May high C = 23.0
|Jun high C = 27.1
|Jul high C = 30.7
|Aug high C = 30.7
|Sep high C = 27.1
|Oct high C = 22.3
|Nov high C = 17.3
|Dec high C = 14.1
|Jan low C = 4.1
|Feb low C = 4.6
|Mar low C = 6.3
|Apr low C = 8.1
|May low C = 11.0
|Jun low C = 14.7
|Jul low C = 17.2
|Aug low C = 17.4
|Sep low C = 15.7
|Oct low C = 11.9
|Nov low C = 8.2
|Dec low C = 5.3
|Jan precipitation mm = 25
|Feb precipitation mm = 15
|Mar precipitation mm = 25
|Apr precipitation mm = 17
|May precipitation mm = 26
|Jun precipitation mm = 12
|Jul precipitation mm = 5
|Aug precipitation mm = 5
|Sep precipitation mm = 21
|Oct precipitation mm = 22
|Nov precipitation mm = 34
|Dec precipitation mm = 22
|year precipitation mm= 229
|source = Climate-Data.org, Climate data
|date=28 January 2018}}
Economy
M'sila is primarily known for its farming and small business.
Transportation
The city was formerly served by M'Sila Airport.
Notable people
- Mohammed Lakhdar-Hamina (1934-2025), film director
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://i-cias.com/e.o/msila.htm Encycloepaedia of the Orient]-a brief description of M'Sila, focusing on its capital
- [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4077218.stm BBC] - a news article about some recent violence in M'Sila
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20060215002752/http://archnet.org/library/places/one-place.tcl?place_id=1948 Archnet] - focuses on the Maader village project
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20070929092051/http://www.wetlands.org/reports/ris/1DZ005en.pdf Wetlands International] - an in-depth description of M'Sila's wetland
{{Coord|35|42|07|N|4|32|50|E|display=title|source:frwiki}}
{{Province seats of Algeria}}
{{M'Sila Province}}
{{Commons category|M'Sila}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:M'sila}}
Category:Communes of M'Sila Province
Category:Province seats of Algeria
Category:Populated places established in the 10th century
{{M'Sila-geo-stub}}