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In Salah

Coordinates: 27°15′N 2°31′E / 27.25°N 2.52°E / 27.25; 2.52
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Template:Infobox Algerian Municipality

In Salah (Arabic: عين صالح) is an oasis town in central Algeria. It was once an important trade link of the trans-Saharan caravan route. Population 28,022. In Salah is home to some of Algeria's largest oil and gas reserves and plants. The village is located in the heart of the Sahara Desert region of northern Africa. The name In Salah comes from the term "Salty Water". The water of the town is still known for its' unpleasant, salty taste.Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page)..

Features of Interest

A creeping sand dune on the western edge of town is literally advancing on the city and cuts In Salah in half. The dune is moving at a speed of approximately one meter every five years. As buildings are covered by it's leading edge, buildings at the back of the dune are being uncovered. When a formerly covered building at the back of the dune once again becomes free, it is established who it's past owners were and the building is restored and moved into by relatives[1].


Transport

Air flights via In Salah Airport connect the town with the capital Algiers and other major cities in Algeria. The Bus station of In Salah hosts buses going to the north and south. There is a hotel, a restaurant, an internet cafe and two camping sites located in the city and surrounding area. See In salah camping.

Economy

File:In Salah Gas Fields.jpg
In Salah Gas Fields - Site of the In Salah Project

Aside from oil and gas reserves, the main economic activities of In Salah are agricultural in nature with irrigation being supplied by artesian wells. The oasis has approximately 225,000 date palms. The chief produce are dates, fruits and vegetables. In-Salah is also a centre for nomadic Tuareg.[2] The In Salah oil and gas fields are home to the In Salah Project, a major component of which includes a facility to remove CO2 from the gas produced. The CO2 is then re-injected into an underground formation.[3].

History

In Salah was formerly a trading town which dealt in slaves, ivory and gold from the south. These goods were exchanged with European goods from the north.Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page)..

Media

Satellite image of In Salah (right)- from NASA Image Exchange. Note the oasis (bottom center) and city at the top/right of image. The dark areas in the center of the image are agricultural areas.


Photo gallery/virtual tour featuring 24 images of the In Salah area and their locations. From Panoramio[4]:
CLICK HERE

Climate

The Saharan desert region of Algeria has a climate that is virtually rainless. In Salah averages less than one inch of rainfall per year. Summer temperatures are consistently high but temperatures at night fall low enough to be quite tolerable. Winter nights can be chilly and frost is by no means unknown but the days are warm and sunny.[5]


Monthly Averages[6]

Month High Low Precip.
F/C F/C In./mm
January 71 / 22 45 / 7 .15 / 3.7
February 77 / 25 50 / 10 .14 / 3.5
March 83 / 29 56 / 13 .05 / 1.2
April 92 / 33 63 / 17 .06 / 1.6
May 100 / 38 72 / 22 .02 / 0.5
June 110 / 43 82 / 27 .00 / 0.1
July 112 / 45 85 / 29 .00 / 0.0
August 111 / 44 84 / 29 .02 / 0.5
September 105 / 40 78 / 26 .01 / 0.2
October 93 / 34 67 / 20 .05 / 1.2
November 81 / 27 55 / 13 .02 / 0.5
December 71 / 22 46 / 8 .11 / 2.7
Yearly Mean 91.83 63.33


Historical weather records for In Salah: http://www.tutiempo.net/en/Climate/IN-SALAH/606300.htm

Notes


27°15′N 2°31′E / 27.25°N 2.52°E / 27.25; 2.52