Kerzaz

Kerzaz (Arabic: آﺮزاز‎) is a town and commune, and capital of Kerzaz District, in Béchar Province, western Algeria. According to the 2008 census its population is 5,028,[2] up from 4,276 in 1998, [3] and its annual growth rate is 1.7%.[2] The commune covers an area of 10,520 square kilometres (4,060 sq mi).[1]

Kerzaz آﺮزاز
View of Ougarta chains from Kerzaz
Location of Kerzaz commune within Béchar Province
Kerzaz Location of Kerzaz commune within Béchar Province
Coordinates: 29°27′N 1°25′W
Country	Algeria
Province	Béchar
Province	Kerzaz District
Area [1]
• Total	10,520 km^2 (4,060 sq mi)
Elevation	397 m (1,302 ft)
Population  (2008)[2]
• Total	5,028
Time zone	UTC+1 (West Africa Time)

Geography

Kerzaz lies on the left (northeast) bank of the Oued Saoura in the Saoura valley. The Grand Erg Occidental, a large area of continuous sand dunes lies to the east, while the rocky ridges of the Ougarta Range rise to the west, running from northwest to southeast along the opposite side of the river from the town.

Climate

Kerzaz has a hot desert climate, with extremely hot summers and mild winters, and very little precipitation throughout the year.

Climate data for Kerzaz
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Average high °C (°F)	19.2 (66.6)	22.3 (72.1)	26.6 (79.9)	31.5 (88.7)	35.9 (96.6)	41.6 (106.9)	45.2 (113.4)	43.5 (110.3)	38.8 (101.8)	31.5 (88.7)	24.5 (76.1)	18.7 (65.7)	31.6 (88.9)
Daily mean °C (°F)	11.6 (52.9)	14.4 (57.9)	18.7 (65.7)	23.3 (73.9)	27.7 (81.9)	33.1 (91.6)	36.6 (97.9)	35.3 (95.5)	31.1 (88.0)	24.2 (75.6)	17.6 (63.7)	12.1 (53.8)	23.8 (74.9)
Average low °C (°F)	4 (39)	6.6 (43.9)	10.8 (51.4)	15.1 (59.2)	19.5 (67.1)	24.6 (76.3)	28 (82)	27.1 (80.8)	23.4 (74.1)	16.9 (62.4)	10.7 (51.3)	5.6 (42.1)	16.0 (60.8)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	5 (0.2)	5 (0.2)	8 (0.3)	3 (0.1)	2 (0.1)	0 (0)	1 (0.0)	1 (0.0)	2 (0.1)	5 (0.2)	7 (0.3)	6 (0.2)	45 (1.7)
Source: climate-data.org[4]

Economy

Agriculture is the main industry in Kerzaz. The commune has a total of 541 hectares (1,340 acres) of arable land, of which 332 hectares (820 acres) is irrigated.[5] There are a total of 63,570 date palms planted in the commune.[6] As of 2009 there were 1,145 sheep, 575 goats, 228 camels, and 20 cattle.[7]

Infrastructure and housing

95% of Kerzaz's population is connected to drinking water,[8] 95% is connected to the sewerage system,[9] and 87% (including 1,161 buildings) have access to electricity.[10] There is one fuel service station in the town.[11]

Kerzaz has a total of 840 houses, of which 680 are occupied, giving an occupation rate of 7.4 inhabitants per occupied building.[12]

Transportation

Kerzaz is on the N6 national highway between Béchar to the northwest and Adrar to the southeast. Towns accessible to the north via the N6 include Béni Ikhlef, El Ouata, Béni Abbès and Igli, while to the south the towns of Timoudi, Ouled Khoudir and Ksabi can be accessed.

There is a total length of 42.6 kilometres (26.5 mi) of roads in the commune.[13]

Education

There are 4 elementary schools, with 34 classrooms including 20 in use.[14] There are a total of 1,076 school students.[15]

4.9% of the population has a tertiary education, and another 18.7% has competed secondary education.[16] The overall literacy rate is 78.5%, and is 90.7% among males and 66.9% among females.[17]

Health

Kerzaz has 2 polyclinics, 2 room care facilities, and a maternity ward.[18]

Religion

Kerzaz has 3 operational mosques, with another 1 under construction.[19]

Localities

The commune is composed of three localities:[20]

• Kerzaz Megsem
• Zaouia el Kbira
• Kerzaz Ksar

Kerzaz Megsem is at the location where the N6 highway departs from the Oued Saoura and enters the Ougarta Range. Kerzaz Ksar is slightly downstream, while Zaouia el Kbira is 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) upstream.

References

1. "Population, Area and Density per Commune" (in French). Official Website of the Wilaya of Bechar. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
2. "Population: Béchar Wilaya" (PDF) (in French). Office National des Statistiques Algérie. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 May 2013. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
3. "Algeria Communes". Statoids. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
4. "Climate data for: Kerzaz". climate-data.org. Retrieved 10 March 2013.
5. "Distribution of Agricultural Land" (in French). Official Website of the Wilaya of Bechar. Archived from the original on 10 July 2014. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
6. "Plant Productions" (in French). Official Website of the Wilaya of Bechar. Archived from the original on 20 August 2014. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
7. "Animal Production" (in French). Official Website of the Wilaya of Bechar. Archived from the original on 20 August 2014. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
8. "Drinking Water" (in French). Official Website of the Wilaya of Bechar. Archived from the original on 9 July 2014. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
9. "Sewerage Networks" (in French). Official Website of the Wilaya of Bechar. Archived from the original on 10 July 2014. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
10. "Electrification" (in French). Official Website of the Wilaya of Bechar. Archived from the original on 9 July 2014. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
11. "Fuel Distribution" (in French). Official Website of the Wilaya of Bechar. Archived from the original on 10 July 2014. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
12. "Housing" (in French). Official Website of the Wilaya of Bechar. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
13. "Density Kilometres" (in French). Official Website of the Wilaya of Bechar. Archived from the original on 29 April 2014. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
14. "School Infrastructure" (in French). Official Website of the Wilaya of Bechar. Archived from the original on 29 April 2014. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
15. "Number of Pupils" (in French). Official Website of the Wilaya of Bechar. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
16. "Structure relative de la population résidente des ménages ordinaires et collectifs âgée de 6 ans et plus selon le niveau d'instruction et la commune de résidence" (PDF) (in French). Office National des Statistiques Algérie. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2013. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
17. "Taux d'analphabétisme et taux d'alphabétisation de la population âgée de 15 ans et plus, selon le sexe et la commune de résidence " (PDF) (in French). Office National des Statistiques Algérie. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 May 2013. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
18. "Health Facilities by Commune" (in French). Official Website of the Wilaya of Bechar. Archived from the original on 29 April 2014. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
19. "Mosques and Koranic Rooms" (in French). Official Website of the Wilaya of Bechar. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
20. "Décret n° 84-365, fixant la composition, la consistance et les limites territoriale des communes. Wilaya d'El Oued" (PDF) (in French). Journal officiel de la République Algérienne. 19 December 1984. p. 1490. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 March 2013 or before. Retrieved 2 March 2013. Check date values in: |archivedate= (help)

Neighbouring towns and cities