Abadla

Abadla (العبادلة) is a town and commune in western Algeria, and capital of Abadla District, Béchar Province. It is located on the Oued Guir southwest of Béchar. According to the 2008 census its population is 13,636, up from 10,845 in 1998, and an annual growth rate of 2.4%, making it the most populated commune in Béchar Province apart from the capital. The commune covers an area of 2870 km2.

It is a major centre for the Arab Doui-Menia tribe.

Geography
Abadla's location on the Oued Guir allows the growing of grain, facilitated in recent decades by the Djorf Torba dam located upstream. The area south of the town is mostly a flat plain, but there are several rocky hills found to the north of the town.

Climate
Abadla has a hot desert climate (Köppen climate classification BWh), with extremely hot summers and cool winters, and very little precipitation throughout the year.

Economy
Agriculture is the main industry in Abadla. The commune has a total of 350 ha of arable land, of which 233 ha is irrigated. There are a total of 23,350 date palms planted in the commune. As of 2009 there were 9,814 sheep, 2,777 goats, 1,939 camels, and 80 cattle. There were also 4000 chickens in 3 buildings.

Infrastructure and housing
100% of Abadla's population is connected to drinking water, 99% is connected to the sewerage system, and 83% (including 2,527 buildings) have access to electricity. There is one fuel service station in the town.

Abadla has a total of 2,594 houses, of which 1,982 are occupied, giving an occupation rate of 6.9 inhabitants per occupied building.

Transportation
Abadla is on the N6 national highway between Béchar to the northeast and Adrar to the southeast. The town of Méchraâ Houari Boumédienne is on the highway just to the south, while further to the south the towns of Igli, Béni Abbès and others can be accessed. The N50 highway leaves the N6 to the west just to the southwest of Abadla; it eventually leads to Tindouf, passing Hammaguir and Tinfouchy on the way.

The two other towns in Abadla District are Méchraâ Houari Boumédienne, which is 20 km from Abadla, and Erg Ferradj, which is 12 km from Abadla and is accessible by a local road on the northern side of the N6. Abadla is 91 km from the provincial capital, Béchar.

There is a total length of 52 km of roads in the commune.

Abadla was the terminus station of the Mediterranean-Niger-Railway.

Education
There are 7 elementary schools, with 88 classrooms including 61 in use. There are a total of 3,190 school students.

5.9% of the population has a tertiary education, and another 21.3% has competed secondary education. The overall literacy rate is 83.4%, and is 90.0% among males and 76.5% among females.

Health
Abadla has one polyclinic, 5 room care facilities, a maternity ward, 4 private pharmacies, and a medical operating theatre.

Culture
Abadla has a cinema with 200 seats.

Religion
Abadla has 4 operational mosques, with another 1 under construction.

Localities
The commune is composed of two localities:


 * Abadla
 * Ksi Ksou