Ghardaïa

Ghardaïa
(Arabic: ‫غرداية‬, Mzab-Berber: Taɣerdayt) is the capital city of Ghardaïa

Province, Algeria. The commune of Ghardaïa has a population of 93,423 according to the 2008
census,[1] up from 87,599 in 1998,[2] with an annual growth rate of 0.7%.[1]
It is located in northern-central Algeria in the Sahara Desert and lies along the left bank of
the Wadi Mzab. The M'zab valley in the Ghardaïa Province (Wilaya) was inscribed under
the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1982, as a cultural property evaluated under the criteria II (for
its settlement affecting urban planning even to the present century), III (for its Ibadi cultural
values), and V (a settlement culture which has prevailed to the present century).[3][4]
Ghardaïa is part of a pentapolis, a hilltop city amongst four others, built almost a thousand years
ago in the M’Zab valley. It was founded by the Mozabites, an Ibadi sect of the Amazigh Muslims.[5]
[6]
It is a major centre of date production and the manufacture of rugs and cloths.[7] Divided into three
walled sectors, it is a fortified town. At the centre is the historical Mʾzabite area, with a pyramid-
style mosque and an arcaded square.[8] Distinctive white, pink, and red houses, made of sand,
clay and gypsum,[9] rise in terraces and arcades.[8]
In her 1963 book, La Force des choses, the French existentialist philosopher Simone de
Beauvoir described Ghardaïa as "a Cubist painting beautifully constructed".[9]
Etymology[edit]
The name of Ghardaïa has its origins in a female saint named Daïa who lived in a cave (ghār) in the area before it
blossomed into a town inhabited by Ibadite Muslims who came to escape persecution from Fatimite Muslims in the north.
[7][8]
Alternatively, Ghardaïa's name may be derived from the Tamazight word Tagherdayt (ⵟⴰⴳⵀⴻⵔⴷⴰⵢⵜ) meaning the
castle, although there is no reliable sourcing to confirm this.[citation needed]
History[edit]
The M'Zab valley, in limestone plateau, was inscribed under the UNESCO Heritage List, is a unique conglomeration of
five cities confined in area of 75 km² situated 600 km to the south of Algiers, the capital of Algeria.
The original architecture of the semi desert valley is dated to early 11th century. It is ascribed to the Ibadis, with their
cultural identity originally traced to the Maghreb; they had their capital at Tahert as an Ibadi Kingdom. They were forced
to leave Tahert consequent to a devastating fire in 909 (it is reported that destruction was caused by the founder of the
(Shi'ite) Fatimid Dynasty[6]). They first moved to Sedrata and finally to the M'Zab valley. They settled in five fortified
villages located on rocky outcrops, known locally as “Kosars”, although they could have lived in one larger village
encompassing all the five. The habitation was planned with meticulous details to precise layouts defined by set principles
of community living within a defensive environment. Ghardaïa's foundation has been dated to 1048[10] or 1053.[11]
Each village was planned in a diverse topography comprising a small island, a ridge, a hilltop, a peak and a recess. The
villages were fortified in such a manner that they were inaccessible to the nomadic groups. The five villages set up with
identical planning concepts were Ghardaïa, Melika, Beni Isguen, Bou Noura and El Atteuf. The identical “miniature
citadels”, as they are termed, each had their own mosque with minaret functioning as watch towers, and the houses built
around the mosque in concentric circles and surrounded by a high walls (extending up to the ramparts). The buildings
together gave the feel of a fortress to each village. The mosque also provided for storage of grains and arms for
defence.[3][4][6]
However, during the summer season the inhabitants migrated to a "citadel" outside the fortified villages, in an informal
setting of artificial palm grove, a cemetery and a mosque.[6]
The ksar was created in 476/1085 by two tribes : the Aoulad Ammi-Aïssa and the Aoulad Ba-Slimane. Each tribe
contained different fractions, a specific area and a cemetery[12]. Ghardaïa is the richest city of the M'Zab Vallée. It already
had a dynamic commercial and craft activity. On the social aspect, it is the only Ksar, along with Melika, that housed not
only Ibadites Berbers, but also Malekits Arabs and a Jewish community until the Algerian Independence.
To build the Ksar, the founders of Ghardaïa, a small group of people, under a Cheikh, chose a hill 200m south of the
M'Zab Oued for defensive purposes. Farther west, they created a palm grove for subsistence farming. The Ksar of
Ghardaïa, as it is today, did not appear in one time. According to the public agency in charge of protecting the M'Zab
Heritage, Ghardaïa has seen four phases of evolution until 1882, when it was annexed by the French army.[12]
Geography[edit]
Map of major settlements within the province of Ghardaïa
The city is located within the Sahara Desert in northern-central Algeria. Ghardaïa Province is divided into
13 communes or municipalities, which includes the Ghardaïa municipality. It is bordered by Ouargla and El Bayadh
Wilayas. It is nestled in the M'zab valley, lying on the left bank of the Wadi Mzab, which is commonly dry throughout the
year. The commune of Ghardaïa now covers an area of 590 km2 (230 sq mi) and includes a number of suburbs, towns
and villages in addition to Ghardaïa. Suburb settlements include Mélika, Béni Isguen, Bounoura (Has Bunur) and El
Atteuf (Tadjnint), all of which lie to the southeast of Ghardaïa city and the ancient ksar of Metlili-Chaamba or Metlili which
lies 42 km (26 mi) to the southwest.[citation needed] Outside of the Mzab valley, Berriane (Has Ibergane) and El
Guerrara (Iguerraren) are towns of note, the first 45 km (28 mi) to the north, and the second 110 km (68 mi) to the
northeast.
Hydrology[edit]
Ghardaïa's ancient water distribution system was devised by the Mozabites, as a response to the ephemeral flows of its
oueds (rivers). Realising the preciousness of this natural resource, the Mozabites developed a unique hydraulic system
of tunnels to harvest rainwater and divert it to the oases. They have an equitable water distribution to all gardens and
also maintain good flood protection measures.[5][13] The water supply is accessed in a number of ways through a complex
irrigation system that distributes water from many wells.[9] Well drilling extends to a depth ranging from 350 ft (110 m) to
500 ft (150 m), drawing the water from the Albian fossil groundwater continental infill whose reserves are estimated at
1.5 trillion m3.
Climate[edit]
Ghardaïa has a hot desert climate (Köppen climate classification BWh), with extremely hot summers and mild winters.
The region is marked by large temperature differences between day and night, and summer and winter ranging from
lows of 5 °C (41 °F) to highs of 46 °C (114.8 °F). The prevailing winds of summer are extremely hot, extremely dry and
strong, while winter winds are warm and dry. Sandstorms generally occur from March to May. In October 2008,
Ghardaïa was severely affected by flooding due to heavy rain.[14]

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(Arabic: ‫غرداية‬, Mzab-Berber: Taɣerdayt) is the capital city of Ghardaïa

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