Djelfa
Encyclopedia
Djelfa is the capital city of Djelfa province, Algeria
. It has a population of 154,265 (1998 census). The city lies at the junction of the N1 and the N46.
A pleasant medium-size city, north-central Algeria
, in the Ouled Nail
Mountains at an elevation of 3,734 feet (1,138 m). It is situated between the towns of Bou Saâda
and Laghouat
. Djelfa town is at a point of transition between the dry, steppelike High Plateaus of the north, with their chotts (intermittent salt lakes), and the Sahara
(south). The town was founded in 1852 as a French military post on a geometric plan. It serves as an important livestock
market centre for the seminomad
ic Ouled Nail
confederation. Djelfa is on the 12,000 mile Africa Trail.
The surrounding region for centuries has been the meeting place of the Ouled Nail, who live in black-and-red striped tents and claim descent from the Prophet Muhammad
.
The area is notable for its abundance of Neolithic
rock carvings dating from 7000 to 5000 BC. North of Djelfa town there is an imposing physical feature known as Salt Rock
(Rocher de Sel) that resulted from the erosion of rock salts and marls by rain, and to the west of the town Megalithic funerary structures are found.
During Petain's period, a concentration camp was placed in Djelfa.
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...
. It has a population of 154,265 (1998 census). The city lies at the junction of the N1 and the N46.
A pleasant medium-size city, north-central 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...
, in the Ouled Nail
Ouled Nail
The Ouled Naïl are:* A tribe living in the Ouled Naïl Mountains of Algeria* The range of mountains in Algeria called the Ouled Naïl* A term in belly dancing refer to a style of dance originated by the Ouled Naïl people...
Mountains at an elevation of 3,734 feet (1,138 m). It is situated between the towns of Bou Saâda
Bou Saada
Bou Saada is a town and municipality in M'Sila Province, Algeria, situated 245 km south of Algiers. The municipality population was estimated at 134,000 in 2008....
and Laghouat
Laghouat
Laghouat is the capital city of the Laghouat Province, Algeria, 400 km south of the Algerian capital Algiers in the Atlas Mountains. As of 2005, the population of the city was 126,291 inhabitants. Nearby, in Hassi R'Mel, there is the largest natural gas reserve in Africa.The city was founded in...
. Djelfa town is at a point of transition between the dry, steppelike High Plateaus of the north, with their chotts (intermittent salt lakes), and the Sahara
Sahara
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...
(south). The town was founded in 1852 as a French military post on a geometric plan. It serves as an important livestock
Livestock
Livestock refers to one or more domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to produce commodities such as food, fiber and labor. The term "livestock" as used in this article does not include poultry or farmed fish; however the inclusion of these, especially poultry, within the meaning...
market centre for the seminomad
Nomad
Nomadic people , commonly known as itinerants in modern-day contexts, are communities of people who move from one place to another, rather than settling permanently in one location. There are an estimated 30-40 million nomads in the world. Many cultures have traditionally been nomadic, but...
ic Ouled Nail
Ouled Nail
The Ouled Naïl are:* A tribe living in the Ouled Naïl Mountains of Algeria* The range of mountains in Algeria called the Ouled Naïl* A term in belly dancing refer to a style of dance originated by the Ouled Naïl people...
confederation. Djelfa is on the 12,000 mile Africa Trail.
Muhammad
Muhammad |ligature]] at U+FDF4 ;Arabic pronunciation varies regionally; the first vowel ranges from ~~; the second and the last vowel: ~~~. There are dialects which have no stress. In Egypt, it is pronounced not in religious contexts...
.
The area is notable for its abundance of Neolithic
Neolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
rock carvings dating from 7000 to 5000 BC. North of Djelfa town there is an imposing physical feature known as Salt Rock
Salt Rock
Salt Rock is a small town just north of Ballito and Shaka's Rock on the Dolphin Coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is a favorite holiday destination for many local South Africans. It is about 40 minutes north of Durban. There are plenty of fishing spots along the coast from Salt Rock, through...
(Rocher de Sel) that resulted from the erosion of rock salts and marls by rain, and to the west of the town Megalithic funerary structures are found.
- See separate article, Rock art of the Djelfa regionRock art of the Djelfa regionThe rock art of the Djelfa region consists of prehistoric engravings of Neolithic age which have been recognized since 1914. Following the Saharan Atlas Mountains they follow on from those, to the west, of south Oran , to which they are related...
.
During Petain's period, a concentration camp was placed in Djelfa.