Merouana
Encyclopedia
Merouana city in Algeria is under the jurisdiction of the Batna Province
; it is 40 km from Batna City
. The Chawi is one of the most indigenous populations, the name means cowboys and shepherds. Merouana is one of the oldest daïras (districts) in the nation. It is the capital of the Belzma Plain and Belzma National Park
.
in 127 when it was called Lamasba. It was a fortress which was damaged by Vandals
. It was rebuilt by Byzantines
and become a military area for Byzantines military retirees.
However, this fortress was destroyed in the Islamic conquest in the era of Ottoman Empire
, then it was re-established as a military base. It was entrusted with the task of collecting taxes in the French colonial
era. It attained city status in 1909, and the daïra
was founded in 1912 as the Corneille.
The region has seen many revolutions, the latest is Ali Musa revolution in 1916 in M'stawa mountains. It also saw first operations in the light of November approximately 30 attack in various parts of the region. The heroes and martyrs of the region remind Ali N'meur, Ziza Massika
and Salah Indochine.
,to the West by RAs Layoun and N'Gaous
, to the east by Seriana
, to the south-east by Batna City
, and to the south by Ain Touta
. The daïra of Merouana consists of four municipalities: Hidoussa
, Ksar Bellezma
, Oued El Ma
and Merouana.
Merouana city is dominated by the mountains which surround it and which are snow-capped in winter. The most famous mountains are Sh'lalaa, M'stawa and Erefaa; others include Bughioul, Fakhra, Tikelt, Mothen and Tisras. However, this did not prevent the existence of broad Belzma plain, which is one of the largest plains in Algeria. Merouana region is a seismicly active zone which has necessitated the establishment of an earthquake monitoring center which is the only one in Batna state.
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:...
; it is 40 km from Batna City
Batna City
Batna is the main city of Batna Province, Algeria. With a population of 285,800 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.-History:...
. The Chawi is one of the most indigenous populations, the name means cowboys and shepherds. Merouana is one of the oldest daïras (districts) in the nation. It is the capital of the Belzma Plain and Belzma National Park
Belzma National Park
The Belezma National Park ' is one of the most important national parks of Algeria. It is located in Batna Province...
.
Origin and history
The city's founding date back to the era of the RomansAncient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
in 127 when it was called Lamasba. It was a fortress which was damaged by Vandals
Vandals
The Vandals were an East Germanic tribe that entered the late Roman Empire during the 5th century. The Vandals under king Genseric entered Africa in 429 and by 439 established a kingdom which included the Roman Africa province, besides the islands of Sicily, Corsica, Sardinia and the Balearics....
. It was rebuilt by Byzantines
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
and become a military area for Byzantines military retirees.
However, this fortress was destroyed in the Islamic conquest in the era of Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
, then it was re-established as a military base. It was entrusted with the task of collecting taxes in the French colonial
French Colonial
French Colonial a style of architecture used by the French during colonization. Many French colonies, especially those in South-East Asia, have previously been reluctant to promote their colonial architecture as an asset for tourism, however in recent times, the new-generation of local authorities...
era. It attained city status in 1909, and the daïra
Districts of Algeria
The provinces of Algeria are divided into 553 districts . The capital of a district is called a district seat...
was founded in 1912 as the Corneille.
The region has seen many revolutions, the latest is Ali Musa revolution in 1916 in M'stawa mountains. It also saw first operations in the light of November approximately 30 attack in various parts of the region. The heroes and martyrs of the region remind Ali N'meur, Ziza Massika
Ziza Massika
Chahida Massika whose real name Ziza Sakina who was distinguished by his bravery during the struggle for national liberation, fell in battle August 29, 1959 while trying to save an chahid....
and Salah Indochine.
Location and terrain
Merouana is located at 35.6286 degree north latitude and 5.9117 degree east longitude. Geographically, merouana is located in the northern part of Batna Province, bounded to the north by Awlad Sallam and L'msil, to the north-east by Ain JasserAïn Djasser
Aïn Djasser is a town in northeastern Algeria....
,to the West by RAs Layoun and N'Gaous
N'Gaous
N'Gaous is a town in northeastern Algeria....
, to the east by Seriana
Seriana
Seriana is a town in Batna Province, Algeria, at . In the colonial period, it was called Pasteur.An arms factory, the Entreprise des Réalisations Industrielles de Seriana, is located there. Khaled Nezzar was born in the area....
, to the south-east by Batna City
Batna City
Batna is the main city of Batna Province, Algeria. With a population of 285,800 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.-History:...
, and to the south by Ain Touta
Aïn Touta
Aïn Touta is a town situated in the east of Algeria. It is located 35 km southwest of Batna and 82 km north of Biskra. It has an area of about five square kilometers ....
. The daïra of Merouana consists of four municipalities: Hidoussa
Hidoussa
Hidoussa is a town in northeastern Algeria....
, Ksar Bellezma
Ksar Bellezma
Ksar Bellezma is a town in northeastern Algeria....
, Oued El Ma
Oued El Ma
Oued El Ma is a town in northeastern Algeria....
and Merouana.
Merouana city is dominated by the mountains which surround it and which are snow-capped in winter. The most famous mountains are Sh'lalaa, M'stawa and Erefaa; others include Bughioul, Fakhra, Tikelt, Mothen and Tisras. However, this did not prevent the existence of broad Belzma plain, which is one of the largest plains in Algeria. Merouana region is a seismicly active zone which has necessitated the establishment of an earthquake monitoring center which is the only one in Batna state.
City Features
- Martyr Monument, to the memory of martyrs' souls in the midst of a large pine forest, rising to a height of more than 15 meters.
- The old mosque, is the oldest mosque built in Merouana.
- Museum of Revolution 1954, was founded recently to include the secrets of revolution in the region.
- The stadium with green grass land, which had been renovated in 2006.
- Telephone mast, which was established in order to install telephone and television antennas, rises more than 60 metres in the sky.
- Plant for manufacturing aluminum utensils and another factory to make biscuits.
- And there are large-scale projects under way, like the transport station and passengers as well as the mental hospital, in addition to the gym the proposed new road link between Merouana and Batna, which will include a 3 kilometer tunnel.