Biskra Province

Biskra (ولاية بسكرة, Berber: ⴱⴻⵙⴽⵔⴰ) is a province (wilaya) of Algeria. Its capital is Biskra. It is located on the northern edge of the Algerian Sahara, south of the Atlas Mountains.

Geographically, Biskra Province is arid, but oases and rivers can be found, such as the Djedi River which flows through the province. The mountainous Aurès region also extends into the province.

Biskra Province is home to the district of Tolga, which is well-known internationally for its high-quality Deglet Nour dates. Other localities include Lichoua, Sidi Okba, Sidi Khaled, El-Kantara and Ouled Djellal.

Berber tribes
The Biskra area has been inhabited since at least the 3rd millennium BC, when the Gaetuli, an ancient Berber tribe, arrived in North Africa. They settled in the Aurès region, where they posed problems to Roman infiltration in the 3rd century BC as they were stellar horsemen and became dreaded in combat. Eventually, Roman politician Gaius Marius negotiated exploration of the South against concessions of agricultural land around Cirta and Setifis (at the time under Roman rule), and dispersed them and diminished their strength.

Roman occupation
The Biskra area experienced many violent wars during Roman colonization, including the resistance war led by the Berber leader Tacfarinas, followed by his successor, the militant Jugurtha "Youghorta". With the help of the inhabitants of the city of Biskra, who provided human and material support, Jugurtha destroyed the Roman army at the end of the so-called Numidia region.

The Romans also established the city of Tolga and during their rule in the second century A.D, Syrian archers guarding the town of El Kantara were thought to have planted the first date palm grove in the region.

Post-independence
The province was created from parts of Oasis department and Batna (département) in 1974.

In 1984 El Oued Province was carved out of its territory.

Administrative divisions
The province is made up of 12 districts and 33 communes or municipalities.

Districts

 * 1) Biskra
 * 2) Djemourah
 * 3) Foughala
 * 4) El Kantara
 * 5) El Outaya
 * 6) M'Chouneche
 * 7) Ouled Djellal
 * 8) Ourlal
 * 9) Sidi Khaled
 * 10) Sidi Okba
 * 11) Tolga
 * 12) Zeribet El Oued

Communes

 * 1) Aïn Naga
 * 2) Aïn Zaatout
 * 3) Biskra
 * 4) Bordj Ben Azzouz
 * 5) Bouchagroune
 * 6) Branis
 * 7) Chetma
 * 8) Djemorah
 * 9) Doucen
 * 10) El Feidh
 * 11) El Ghrous
 * 12) El Hadjeb
 * 13) El Haouch
 * 14) El Kantara
 * 15) El Outaya
 * 16) Foughala
 * 17) Khenguet Sidi Nadjil
 * 18) Lichana
 * 19) Lioua
 * 20) M'Chouneche
 * 21) Mekhadma
 * 22) Meziraa
 * 23) M'Lili
 * 24) Ouled Djellal
 * 25) Ouled Harkat
 * 26) Ouled Rahma
 * 27) Ouled Sassi
 * 28) Oumache
 * 29) Ourlala
 * 30) Sidi Khaled
 * 31) Sidi Okba
 * 32) Tolga
 * 33) Zeribet El Oued