Batna City
Encyclopedia
Batna is the main city of Batna Province
, Algeria
. With a population of 285,800 (2004 estimation) it is the fifth largest city in Algeria. It is also one of the principal cities of the Chaoui
area and is considered the capital of the Aures.
road.
Batna's geographical location offers a natural break through the Atlas Mountains
. The Romans did not detect this passage in their early invasion phase.
The ancient cities of Timgad
and Lambese, built around the first century CE, are living examples of the importance that the Romans gave to commercial control over the region.
The first Batneens adhere to Messali Hadj
(PPP), also with the Ulemas Ben Badis and the Movement for the triumph of democratic freedoms (MTLD), then they will organize the great historic summit of 22, June 25, 1954.
The outbreak of the Algerian revolution was decided at Batna under the chairmanship of Batnéen Mustapha Benboulaïd
(FLN). Batna was the first military region of L 'Algeria
(zone 1) 1954 1962.
On the night of November 1, 1954, the barracks of the city of Batna is attacked by the mujahedeen.
Batna is the command headquarters of the Algerian revolution until independence.
suicide bombing. The bombing, which took place shortly before the visit of Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika
, resulted in approximately 15-20 deaths and 107 injuries as the bomber detonated his device among a crowd waiting to see the President, who was at the end of a three-day tour of eastern Algeria. The bombings were condemned by the UN Security Council.
(part of the Atlas Mountains
), at 1,048 m (3,438 ft) above sea level, Batna has a semi-arid climate with Mediterranean
influences and an average annual precipitation of 357 mm (14.06 in). Summers are moderately hot (by Saharan standards) and dry and winters are chilly and wetter, with the possibility of snow
falls. This climate is described by the Köppen climate classification
as BSk.
This city has the lowest recorded temperature in Algeria, of -20 °C (-4 °F), on January 4, 1945.
, which is used mainly for soccer clubs and festivals (CAB & MSPB are the biggest teams in the city), in addition to the Scholar Stadium. For cultural activities there is a municipal Cultural House, which is located behind the Prefecture and covers many cultural and educational activities, in addition to the Islamic Cultural Center in the heart of the city and the Youth House in Cite Ennaser. For children, an attraction park is located in Kechida, which is approximately a ten minute drive from the downtown area. However, this park is undergoing maintenance for few years.
, or cards. Another important hobby is hopping on a computer in a cyber café, due to the affordable price. Online, the youths enjoy just googling, surfing the internet, or chatting with overseas people using MSN
, Yahoo! Messenger
, Skype
, caramail, and so on.
), Timgad
, Balcons de Ghoufi, Chelaalaa, and Belezma National Park.
Batna Province
Batna is a wilaya of Algeria. Capital is Batna. Localities in this province include Barika, Merouana and Timgad. Belezma National Park is there.- Administrative divisions :It is made up of 22 districts and 61 municipalities.The districts are:...
, Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
. With a population of 285,800 (2004 estimation) it is the fifth largest city in Algeria. It is also one of the principal cities of the Chaoui
Chaoui
The Shawia people, or Chaouis are a Berber people who live mainly in the Aurès, Nememcha and Belezma Region in the Aurès Mountains, a large part of eastern Algeria known in ancient times as Numidia...
area and is considered the capital of the Aures.
History
The first solid foundations (a military encampment) of the city were erected by a French garrison in 1844, with a strategic mission to create a permanently guarded access point for the main SaharaSahara
The Sahara is the world's second largest desert, after Antarctica. At over , it covers most of Northern Africa, making it almost as large as Europe or the United States. The Sahara stretches from the Red Sea, including parts of the Mediterranean coasts, to the outskirts of the Atlantic Ocean...
road.
Batna's geographical location offers a natural break through the Atlas Mountains
Atlas Mountains
The Atlas Mountains is a mountain range across a northern stretch of Africa extending about through Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. The highest peak is Toubkal, with an elevation of in southwestern Morocco. The Atlas ranges separate the Mediterranean and Atlantic coastlines from the Sahara Desert...
. The Romans did not detect this passage in their early invasion phase.
The ancient cities of Timgad
Timgad
Timgad , called Thamugas or Tamugadi in old Berber) was a Roman colonial town in the Aures mountain- numidia Algeria founded by the Emperor Trajan around 100 AD. The full name of the town was Colonia Marciana Ulpia Traiana Thamugadi...
and Lambese, built around the first century CE, are living examples of the importance that the Romans gave to commercial control over the region.
Signature and proclamation of the Algerian revolution Batna
The inhabitants of the city revolted against the French authorities at the beginning of colonization. Thereafter they will organize the Algerian revolution against colonialism French.The first Batneens adhere to Messali Hadj
Messali Hadj
Ahmed Ben Messali Hadj was an Algerian nationalist politician dedicated to the independence of his homeland from France...
(PPP), also with the Ulemas Ben Badis and the Movement for the triumph of democratic freedoms (MTLD), then they will organize the great historic summit of 22, June 25, 1954.
The outbreak of the Algerian revolution was decided at Batna under the chairmanship of Batnéen Mustapha Benboulaïd
Mustapha Benboulaïd
Mostefa Ben-Boulaïd is an Algerian Berber revolutionary leader.-Biography:Benboulaïd was born in Arris, Batna Province in eastern Algeria. In 1939, he fulfilled mandatory military service and was mobilized to fight against the Nazis during the Second World War...
(FLN). Batna was the first military region of L 'Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
(zone 1) 1954 1962.
On the night of November 1, 1954, the barracks of the city of Batna is attacked by the mujahedeen.
Batna is the command headquarters of the Algerian revolution until independence.
Previous civil war
On September 6, 2007, Batna saw a massive Al-QaedaAl-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda is a global broad-based militant Islamist terrorist organization founded by Osama bin Laden sometime between August 1988 and late 1989. It operates as a network comprising both a multinational, stateless army and a radical Sunni Muslim movement calling for global Jihad...
suicide bombing. The bombing, which took place shortly before the visit of Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika
Abdelaziz Bouteflika
Abdelaziz Bouteflika is the ninth President of Algeria. He has been in office since 1999. He continued emergency rule until 24 February 2011, and presided over the end of the bloody Algerian Civil War in 2002...
, resulted in approximately 15-20 deaths and 107 injuries as the bomber detonated his device among a crowd waiting to see the President, who was at the end of a three-day tour of eastern Algeria. The bombings were condemned by the UN Security Council.
Historical population
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1901 | 6,900 |
| 1926 | 10,300 |
| 1931 | 13,600 |
| 1936 | 15,500 |
| 1948 | 21,700 |
| 1954 | 26,400 |
| 1966 | 54,900 |
| 1974 | 115,100 |
| 1977 | 102,800 |
| 1987 | 181,600 |
| 1998 | 246,800 |
Climate
Located in the Aurès MountainsAurès Mountains
The Aurès , or Aurea, refers to an Amazigh language-speaking region in East Algeria, as well as an extension of the Atlas mountain range that lies to the east of the Saharan Atlas in eastern Algeria and northwestern Tunisia...
(part of the Atlas Mountains
Atlas Mountains
The Atlas Mountains is a mountain range across a northern stretch of Africa extending about through Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. The highest peak is Toubkal, with an elevation of in southwestern Morocco. The Atlas ranges separate the Mediterranean and Atlantic coastlines from the Sahara Desert...
), at 1,048 m (3,438 ft) above sea level, Batna has a semi-arid climate with Mediterranean
Mediterranean climate
A Mediterranean climate is the climate typical of most of the lands in the Mediterranean Basin, and is a particular variety of subtropical climate...
influences and an average annual precipitation of 357 mm (14.06 in). Summers are moderately hot (by Saharan standards) and dry and winters are chilly and wetter, with the possibility of snow
Snow
Snow is a form of precipitation within the Earth's atmosphere in the form of crystalline water ice, consisting of a multitude of snowflakes that fall from clouds. Since snow is composed of small ice particles, it is a granular material. It has an open and therefore soft structure, unless packed by...
falls. This climate is described by the Köppen climate classification
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
as BSk.
This city has the lowest recorded temperature in Algeria, of -20 °C (-4 °F), on January 4, 1945.
City of Batna at a Glance
Most people speak Chaouia, fluent in French and very little English.Entertainment
Many entertainment resorts are spread across the town. With regard to sports activities the most important destinations are the 1st November Stadium (Stade du premier Novembre), and Seffouhi StadiumSeffouhi Stadium
Seffouhi Stadium is a multi-use stadium in Batna, Algeria. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home ground of CA Batna. The stadium holds 5,000 people.- External links :*...
, which is used mainly for soccer clubs and festivals (CAB & MSPB are the biggest teams in the city), in addition to the Scholar Stadium. For cultural activities there is a municipal Cultural House, which is located behind the Prefecture and covers many cultural and educational activities, in addition to the Islamic Cultural Center in the heart of the city and the Youth House in Cite Ennaser. For children, an attraction park is located in Kechida, which is approximately a ten minute drive from the downtown area. However, this park is undergoing maintenance for few years.
Batnian Youth
Batnian youths enjoy having a seat at a café and chatting with friends, discussing affairs, or playing domino, chessChess
Chess is a two-player board game played on a chessboard, a square-checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. It is one of the world's most popular games, played by millions of people worldwide at home, in clubs, online, by correspondence, and in tournaments.Each player...
, or cards. Another important hobby is hopping on a computer in a cyber café, due to the affordable price. Online, the youths enjoy just googling, surfing the internet, or chatting with overseas people using MSN
MSN
MSN is a collection of Internet sites and services provided by Microsoft. The Microsoft Network debuted as an online service and Internet service provider on August 24, 1995, to coincide with the release of the Windows 95 operating system.The range of services offered by MSN has changed since its...
, Yahoo! Messenger
Yahoo! Messenger
Yahoo! Messenger is an advertisement-supported instant messaging client and associated protocol provided by Yahoo!...
, Skype
Skype
Skype is a software application that allows users to make voice and video calls and chat over the Internet. Calls to other users within the Skype service are free, while calls to both traditional landline telephones and mobile phones can be made for a fee using a debit-based user account system...
, caramail, and so on.
Dining and Nightlife
With regard to night life, due to some religious and cultural limitations, there is almost no night clubs in the city. However, a warm atmosphere for a perfect night life is concentrated in the heart of the city, around Les allées Benboulaïd and "STAND" areas, especially during summer break. Downtown Batna has plenty of cafés, traditional restaurants (Chouwaya) or GARGOUTTIER, Pizzerias, French and oriental bakeries, and a limited number of luxury restaurants. Many festivities take place in allées Ben Boulaïd area, mainly in the season of International Timgad Festival (usually between 04-15july every year). The most attractive exciting places surrounding the city are, Lambese (also called LambaesisLambaesis
Lambaesis, or Lambaesa, is a Roman ruin in Algeria, southeast of Batna and west of Timgad, located next to the modern village of Tazoult.-Remains:...
), Timgad
Timgad
Timgad , called Thamugas or Tamugadi in old Berber) was a Roman colonial town in the Aures mountain- numidia Algeria founded by the Emperor Trajan around 100 AD. The full name of the town was Colonia Marciana Ulpia Traiana Thamugadi...
, Balcons de Ghoufi, Chelaalaa, and Belezma National Park.