Biskra

Biskra بسکرة
—  Commune and city  —
City Hall of Biskra, with the modern coat of arms visible at center-right
Biskra بسکرة Location in Algeria
Coordinates: 34°51′N 5°44′E
Country	Algeria
Province	Biskra Province
District	Biskra District
Population (2007)
• Total	207,987
Time zone	+1 (UTC+1)

Biskra (Arabic: بسكرة ‎; Berber: Tibeskert) is the capital city of Biskra province, Algeria. In 2007, its population was recorded as 207,987.

Dancer in Biskra, published in March 1917 National Geographic.

During Roman times the town was called Vescera, though this may have been simply a Latin transliteration of the native name. Around 200 AD under Septimius Severus' reign, it was seized by the Romans and became part of the province of Numidia. As a major settlement in the border region, it was significant even then. Its name was apparently bowdlerized by the Romans to Ad Piscīnam ("at the piscīna"), implying the presence of important waterworks.

As of 1935, Biskra was an inland town, the principal settlement of a Saharan oasis watered by the intermittent Oued Biskra. It is in the southern part of the Algerian rail system, and a favorite winter resort. Large quantities of fruit, especially dates and olives, were grown in the vicinity. The town was a military post, and was the scene of severe fighting in the rebellions of 1849 and 1871.

With January temperatures averaging 11 °C, Biskra is a common vacation spot in winter. Located in northeastern Algeria on the northern edge of the Sahara Desert, the area surrounding it is very arid and most of the population lives in oasis.

In culture

Biskra is the setting of key sections of André Gide's 1902 novel The Immoralist, and he visited the town in 1895 (for a fortnight from 31 January) with Lord Alfred Douglas, following a meeting with Oscar Wilde in Blida and Algiers.

The Hungarian composer Béla Bartók collected traditional music in Biskra in 1913.

Population

Historical population

Year	Population
1901	7,500
1911	20,000
1926	22,000
1931	18,900
1936	21,300
1948	36,400
1954	52,500
1966	59,300
1977	77,000 (town) 90,500 (municipality)
1987	128,300
1998	177,600

Climate

Climate data for Biskra
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Average high °C (°F)	16 (61)	18 (64)	22 (72)	26 (79)	31 (88)	36 (97)	42 (108)	41 (106)	34 (93)	28 (82)	21 (70)	17 (63)	27.7 (81.8)
Average low °C (°F)	7 (45)	8 (46)	11 (52)	14 (57)	18 (64)	24 (75)	27 (81)	26 (79)	23 (73)	17 (63)	12 (54)	7 (45)	16.2 (61.1)
Precipitation mm (inches)	18 (0.71)	10 (0.39)	18 (0.71)	10 (0.39)	15 (0.59)	8 (0.31)	3 (0.12)	3 (0.12)	18 (0.71)	15 (0.59)	23 (0.91)	18 (0.71)	159 (6.26)
Source: [1]

References

• This article incorporates text from The Modern World Encyclopædia: Illustrated (1935); out of UK copyright as of 2005.

External links

• (French) About Biskra
• (Arabic) biskra forums
• (French) Biskra City