Reggane

{{Infobox settlement

|name = Reggane

|native_name = رقان

|native_name_lang = ar

|nickname =

|settlement_type = Commune and town

|image_skyline = Tanezrouft-Reggane(1990).jpg

|image_size =

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|image_seal =

|image_map = dz - Reggane (wilaya d'Adrar) location map.svg

|mapsize = 200px

|map_caption = Location of Reggane Commune within Adrar Province

|pushpin_map = Algeria

|pushpin_map_caption= Location of Reggane within Algeria

|pushpin_mapsize = 300

|subdivision_type = Country

|subdivision_name = {{flag|Algeria}}

|subdivision_type1 = Province

|subdivision_name1 = Adrar Province

|subdivision_type2 = District

|subdivision_name2 = Reggane District

|leader_title =

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|population_as_of = 2008

|population_note =

|population_total = 20402

|population_metro =

|population_density_km2 =

|timezone = CET

|utc_offset = +1

|timezone_DST =

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|coordinates = {{coord|26|43|13|N|0|10|22|E|region:DZ|display=inline,title}}

|elevation_m = 217

|postal_code =

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Reggane (from Berber "Argan"; {{langx|ar|رقان}}) is a town and commune, and the capital of Reggane District, in Adrar Province, central Algeria. Reggane lies in the Sahara Desert near an oasis. According to the 2008 census it has a population of 20,402,{{cite web|title=Population: Wilaya d'Adrar|url=http://www.ons.dz/collections/w01_p1.pdf|publisher=Office National des Statistiques Algérie|access-date=1 July 2013|language=fr}} up from 14,179 in 1998,{{cite web|title=Algeria Communes|url=http://www.statoids.com/ydz.html|publisher=Statoids|access-date=8 March 2013}} with an annual growth rate of 3.8%. Berber tribes and people live in and around Reggane.

History

To the east of Reggane there was, until 1965, a rocket launching site where numerous civilian and military ballistic rockets were launched. France began its nuclear testing program in the vicinity of Reggane, conducting four such tests during the Algerian War in 1960 and 1961, before independence.{{Cite web|url=http://www.johnstonsarchive.net/nuclear/tests/FR-ntests1.html|title = Database of nuclear tests, France}}

Geography

The town of Reggane and its neighbouring villages lie next to the southernmost oasis of the Tuat region, which stretches northward to Adrar. The Tidikelt region, a plain with isolated oases, lies to the east, including towns such as In Salah, In Ghar, Aoulef and Tit. To the west is the sandy Erg Chech desert, while to the south lies the vast barren plain of the Tanezrouft.

Climate

Reggane has a hot desert climate (Köppen climate classification BWh), with long, extremely hot summers and short, very warm winters. The climate is torrid and almost rainless. Daytime temperatures consistently approach 50 °C (122 °F) in summer and nighttime temperatures routinely remain above 30 °C (86 °F). Average annual rainfall is extremely low, with only 10 mm (0.39 in). The sky is always clear and sunny throughout the year. The area in the heart of the Algerian Desert bounded by Adrar - Reggane - In Salah is nicknamed the "triangle of fire" by local inhabitants due to the extreme heat that bakes the region from May to September.{{Cite web|url=http://www.3emegroupedetransport.com/Regganesouffredechaleur.htm|title = 3ème Groupe de Transport}}

{{Weather box

|location = Reggane Airport

|metric first = yes

|single line = yes

|Jan high C = 22.6

|Feb high C = 25.2

|Mar high C = 31.9

|Apr high C = 36.4

|May high C = 40.2

|Jun high C = 44.1

|Jul high C = 46.9

|Aug high C = 45.5

|Sep high C = 42.3

|Oct high C = 35.8

|Nov high C = 28.7

|Dec high C = 24.9

|year high C = 35.59

|Jan mean C = 16.0

|Feb mean C = 18.2

|Mar mean C = 23.1

|Apr mean C = 27.9

|May mean C = 32.2

|Jun mean C = 36.4

|Jul mean C = 39.8

|Aug mean C = 38.4

|Sep mean C = 35.5

|Oct mean C = 29.2

|Nov mean C = 22.0

|Dec mean C = 17.8

|year mean C = 28.34

|Jan low C = 9.4

|Feb low C = 11.3

|Mar low C = 15.9

|Apr low C = 20.6

|May low C = 24.8

|Jun low C = 29.0

|Jul low C = 32.8

|Aug low C = 31.6

|Sep low C = 28.7

|Oct low C = 22.5

|Nov low C = 15.3

|Dec low C = 11.2

|year low C = 21.1

|Jan precipitation mm = 1.4

|Feb precipitation mm = 1.1

|Mar precipitation mm = 1.2

|Apr precipitation mm = 1.6

|May precipitation mm = 0.5

|Jun precipitation mm = 0.1

|Jul precipitation mm = 0.0

|Aug precipitation mm = 0.5

|Sep precipitation mm = 0.2

|Oct precipitation mm = 1.2

|Nov precipitation mm = 0.5

|Dec precipitation mm = 1.8

|source 1 = Global climatology for Reggane, Algeria (2000 - 2015){{cite web

|url=http://www.infoclimat.fr/climatologie/globale/reggane-airport-adr/60645.html

|title= Global climatology for Reggane, Algeria (2000 - 2015)

|access-date=31 May 2013}}

|date=May 2013}}

Transportation

Reggane is the last town on the Tanezrouft track heading south across the Sahara Desert to Mali. Customs and police inspection here are mandatory before crossing the Sahara Desert. The Tanezrouft track is the southern part of Algeria's N6 national highway, which connects to Adrar to the north and Bordj Badji Mokhtar to the south. Another highway, the N52, leads through the Tidikelt region to Aoulef and eventually In Salah.

The town is served by Reggane Airport,{{cite web|title=Reggane Airport|url=http://www.ourairports.com/airports/DAAN/|publisher=OurAirports|access-date=11 October 2013}} located about {{convert|10|km|mi}} east of the town.

Education

6.0% of the population has a tertiary education, and another 15.6% has completed secondary education.{{cite web|title=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.|url=http://www.ons.dz/collections/w01_p6.pdf|publisher=Office National des Statistiques Algérie|access-date=1 July 2013|language=fr}} The overall literacy rate is 75.9%, and is 85.0% among males and 66.3% among females.{{cite web|title=Taux d'analphabétisme et taux d'alphabétisation de la population âgée de 15 ans et plus, selon le sexe et la commune de résidence .|url=http://www.ons.dz/collections/w01_p10.pdf|publisher=Office National des Statistiques Algérie|access-date=1 July 2013|language=fr}}

Localities

As of 1984, the commune was composed of 11 localities:{{cite web|title=Décret n° 84-365, fixant la composition, la consistance et les limites territoriale des communes. Wilaya d'Adrar|url=http://www.joradp.dz/JO8499/1984/067/FP1472.pdf|publisher=Journal officiel de la République Algérienne|access-date=1 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108102422/http://www.joradp.dz/JO8499/1984/067/FP1472.pdf |archive-date=2012-11-08 |page=1472|language=fr|date=19 December 1984}}

Bahou
El Mestour
Zaouit Lahchef
Anzeglouf
Aït Massaoud
En Nefis
Timadanine
Taarabt
Tinoufel Djedida
Tinoufel Elgadima
Zaouit Reggani
Taourirt
Berriche

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20050417015338/http://astronautix.com/sites/reggane.htm Reggane Chronology and Launch Log]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20070302164319/http://www.transafrica.fr/pages/algerie.htm Description of Reggane and the Tanezrouft Track (in French)]
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCb2fXh8GXU French nuclear tests in the Sahara] (video)

Neighbouring towns and cities

{{Geographic location

|Centre = Reggane

|North = Adrar

|Northeast = Ghardaïa
El Goléa (Ghardaïa)

|East = Taourirt
Aoulef

|Southeast = Arak (Tamanrasset
Tamanrasset

|South = Bordj Badji Mokhtar

|Southwest = Taoudenni (Mali)

|West = Tindouf
Bou Bernous (Tindouf)

|Northwest = Béchar
Sali
En Nefis

}}