Tozeur (Tunisian Arabic: توزر Tauzar) is the westernmost of the 24 governorates (provinces) of Tunisia and as such bordering Algeria. It covers an area of 4,719 km2 and has a population of 107,912 (2014 census) making it the least populated province.[2][3] The capital is Tozeur.
Tozeur
ولاية توزر | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 33°55′N 8°08′E / 33.917°N 8.133°E | |
Country | Tunisia |
Created | 21 June 1956 |
Capital | Tozeur |
Government | |
• Governor | Chahine Zribi (since 2024) [1] |
Area | |
• Total | 4,719 km2 (1,822 sq mi) |
• Rank | Ranked 11th of 24 |
Population (2019) | |
• Total | 114,474 |
• Rank | Ranked 24th of 24 |
• Density | 24/km2 (63/sq mi) |
Time zone | UTC+01 (CET) |
Postal prefix | xx |
ISO 3166 code | TN-72 |
Geography
editThe area is of low elevation, particularly its two large dry lakes occupying approximately 45% of its area. These are about a third of the Chott el Djerid, the country's largest inland body of water/salt pan and the Chott el Rhasa which has a small portion in Algeria. The lowest point is the bottom of the latter, 23 m below mean sea level. Tozeur and its airstrip are in the quite narrow strip of land between the two pans. Elevations reach above 200 m in the north east extreme being otherwise below 100 m.[4] The uplands to the north attract variable winter and early spring relief precipitation and little other rain. The area exhibits a hot desert climate (Köppen climate classification BWh) with long, extremely hot summers throughout (see North-south graduation of Tunisian climatic zones) — the patchy and infrequent rainfall in winter is greater than the average for the Sahara Desert of which the area forms part.
Transport
editOne of four arterial roads into Algeria passes through Tozeur along a north-east to south-west axis and the town of Gafsa, a provincial capital to the north before heading due east towards the port and coastal resort city of Sfax. The other roads of the province are marked as minor, one passing via a long causeway through the Chott el Djerid leading directly to Kebili, Matmata and Medenine.
Administrative divisions
editThe Tozeur Governorate is divided into five delegations (mutamadiyat), listed below with their populations at the 2004 and 2014 Censuses,[5] and further divided into 36 sectors (imada).
Delegation | Area in km2 |
Population 2004 Census |
Population 2014 Census |
---|---|---|---|
Degache | 1,419 | 26,596 | 28,543 |
Hazoua | 1,288 | 4,162 | 4,700 |
Nefta | 1,641 | 20,544 | 21,731 |
Tameghza | 890 | 6,362 | 6,516 |
Tozeur | 820 | 39,862 | 46,422 |
Five municipalities are in Tozeur Governorate:
Code | Municipality | Population (2014)[6] |
---|---|---|
6211 | Tozeur | 37,365 |
6212 | Degache | 7,893 |
6213 | Hamet Jerid | 6,439 |
6214 | Nafta | 21,654 |
6215 | Tamerza | 2,334 |
References
edit- ^ https://www.tap.info.tn/en/Portal-Top-News-EN/17861830-president-of-the
- ^ "2014 Tunisian census data". Archived from the original on 2015-05-18.
- ^ (in French) Census 2014 (National Institute of Statistics) Archived 2014-10-29 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Physical map of Tunisia
- ^ Institut National de la Statistique Tunisie (web).
- ^ Recensement Général de la Population et de l'Habitat 2014 – Population, logements et ménages par commune et arrondissement [Census 2014 results – population, accommodation and households per municipality and delegation] (Report) (in French). National Institute of Statistics. 1 April 2015. Retrieved 18 February 2016.