In Belbel is a town located in a small isolated oasis in the Sahara Desert of central Algeria, about 142 kilometres (88 mi) by air east of Adrar. As of 2009 it had a population of 962 people.
In Belbel | |
---|---|
Town | |
Coordinates: 27°53′16″N 1°10′7″E / 27.88778°N 1.16861°E | |
Country | ![]() |
Province | Adrar |
Population (2009) | |
• Total | 962 |
Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
History
editThe village was established in the early 19th century.[1]
In 1982 the town had a population of 464,[2] which doubled until 2009, reaching 962.[1]
In the early 2000s a documentary was made in the town, Le japonais d'In Belbel, which followed the activities of a United Nations University researcher conducting field research in the area and highlighting the importance of studying such remote locations in the desert.[3]
Geography and resources
editIn Belbel lies at the south edge of the Tademait Plateau in the centre of the Algerian Sahara,[4] about 142 kilometres (88 mi) by air and 246 kilometres (153 mi) by road east of Adrar.[5] It relies on date palm as its main agricultural resource. During times of occasional heavy rainfall, the wadis in the vicinity display a significant variety of fauna and flora.[6]
Education
editIn 2005, the town had seven teachers and 140 pupils, including girls. 15 km to the east of the town is the oasis of Matrioune which also has a small school.[7]
References
edit- ^ a b Ishiyama, Shun (2011). "Change of Human Subsistence in the Sahara Oasis" (PDF). Journal of Arid Land Studies. 21 (2): 67–69. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
- ^ Kobori, Iwao; Assa'd, Khaled (1982). Case Studies of Foggara Oases in the Algerian Sahara and Syria. Tokyo: Kobori.
- ^ Annual Report. United Nations University. 2003. p. 21.
- ^ Kobiri, Iwao; Assad, Khaled (1982). Cases Studies of Foggara Oases in the Algerian Sahara and Syria. Kobori.
- ^ "In Belbel" (Map). Google Maps. Google. 3 September 2022. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
- ^ Benkhalifa, A.; Benslimane, W.; Houtia, M.; Hamadi, A. E. H.; Ishiyama, S.; Nawata, H. (September 2014). "Changing Oasis Culture Based on Date Palm Cultivation". Journal of Arid Land Studies.
- ^ Schaaf, Thomas; Lee, Cathy (2008). The Future of Drylands. Springer. p. 82. ISBN 9781402069697.