41
2.6. The wilaya of Algiers
2.6.1. General description
Algiers is the capital of Algeria, located between latitude 36° 46ʹ 34ʺ North and longitude 3° 3ʹ
36ʺ East, in the North of the country. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the North, by
the wilaya of Boumerdès to the East and by the wilaya of Tipaza to the West, constituting the
central sector of Algeria (figure 04). The wilaya of Algiers is bordered to the South by that Blida.
Algiers is one of the country's main urban areas and ranks seventh in Africa in terms of
population with almost three million inhabitants and a density of 4056.97 inhabitants/km²
(Monographie/Algiers, 2019). The wilaya has 57 municipalities hosting, in which more than 30%
of the total population of the wilaya located in the coastal area. The eastern municipalities are
the most populated and the broadest in terms of surface, marked by lower densities compared
to central municipalities (Bad El Oued, Casbah, and Bachdjerah) that reveal about 30 thousand
inhabitant/km² resulting from the increase of demography in these zones, where urbanization
land is insufficient. The coastal line of the wilaya extends from the West, commune of Zéralda,
to the East, commune of Réghaïa, over 107 km and on a narrow width in the center and wide
towards the western and eastern limits.
2.6.2. Natural potential of the wilaya
Based on the recent wilaya’s profil description (Monographie/Algiers, 2019), the capital extends
to 809.22 km² characterized by three longitudinal zones, namely the sahel represented by
gradually sloping hills, a relatively flat coastline comprising mainly sandy beaches interspersed
with rocky plains and the Mitidja which is one of the fertile surfaces of the Northern region
favored by the Mitidja aquifer. These features enhance the development of the agricultural
activity in an area that has reached about 40% of the wilaya with 16 thousand ha of irrigated
land in 2019. The wilaya's natural heritage also includes areas of grassland used for livestock
that are estimated to be 4 thousand ha, unused areas for agriculture that are exceeds 43
thousand ha, and about 5 000 ha of forest areas (6% of the wilaya's territory). Forest comprise
urban woods of less than 10 ha (Bois des Cars, Talus de la Concorde), as well as large wooded
areas up to 600 ha (Forêt des Planters, Baïnem, Bouchaoui). Algiers has a temperate
Mediterranean climate with an average annual temperature of 18°C and rainfall varying
between 670 to 800 mm. year
-1
with marked maximums during the November-January period
(Monographie/ Algiers, 2016). This rainfall supplies a network of dams such the Keddara dam,
Hamiz (surface water), 251 wells (groundwater) with a flow rate of 320,000 m
3
.day
-1
, and natural
water sources such as Source Cherchar (Jardin d'Essai, Algiers) and the two basins Source (Ben
Aknoun). Moreover, Algiers counts nine Oued
1
, and three stations Hamma (Algiers), Fouka
(Tipaza) and a mono-block station at Palm Beach (Zéralda). The total drinking water production
capacity of more than 1 500 000 m
3
/day for a demand of less than one million m
3
, where the
supply is estimated at 165 liters. inhabitant
-1
.day
-1
(Monograph/ Algiers, 2016). The availability
1
Oued Smar, Oued Ouchaiah, Oued Kniss, Oued El Kerma, Oued El Hamiz, Oued M' kacel, Oued Reghaia, Oued
Beni Messous
2.6. The wilaya of Algiers
2.6.1. General description
Algiers is the capital of Algeria, located between latitude 36° 46ʹ 34ʺ North and longitude 3° 3ʹ
36ʺ East, in the North of the country. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the North, by
the wilaya of Boumerdès to the East and by the wilaya of Tipaza to the West, constituting the
central sector of Algeria (figure 04). The wilaya of Algiers is bordered to the South by that Blida.
Algiers is one of the country's main urban areas and ranks seventh in Africa in terms of
population with almost three million inhabitants and a density of 4056.97 inhabitants/km²
(Monographie/Algiers, 2019). The wilaya has 57 municipalities hosting, in which more than 30%
of the total population of the wilaya located in the coastal area. The eastern municipalities are
the most populated and the broadest in terms of surface, marked by lower densities compared
to central municipalities (Bad El Oued, Casbah, and Bachdjerah) that reveal about 30 thousand
inhabitant/km² resulting from the increase of demography in these zones, where urbanization
land is insufficient. The coastal line of the wilaya extends from the West, commune of Zéralda,
to the East, commune of Réghaïa, over 107 km and on a narrow width in the center and wide
towards the western and eastern limits.
2.6.2. Natural potential of the wilaya
Based on the recent wilaya’s profil description (Monographie/Algiers, 2019), the capital extends
to 809.22 km² characterized by three longitudinal zones, namely the sahel represented by
gradually sloping hills, a relatively flat coastline comprising mainly sandy beaches interspersed
with rocky plains and the Mitidja which is one of the fertile surfaces of the Northern region
favored by the Mitidja aquifer. These features enhance the development of the agricultural
activity in an area that has reached about 40% of the wilaya with 16 thousand ha of irrigated
land in 2019. The wilaya's natural heritage also includes areas of grassland used for livestock
that are estimated to be 4 thousand ha, unused areas for agriculture that are exceeds 43
thousand ha, and about 5 000 ha of forest areas (6% of the wilaya's territory). Forest comprise
urban woods of less than 10 ha (Bois des Cars, Talus de la Concorde), as well as large wooded
areas up to 600 ha (Forêt des Planters, Baïnem, Bouchaoui). Algiers has a temperate
Mediterranean climate with an average annual temperature of 18°C and rainfall varying
between 670 to 800 mm. year
-1
with marked maximums during the November-January period
(Monographie/ Algiers, 2016). This rainfall supplies a network of dams such the Keddara dam,
Hamiz (surface water), 251 wells (groundwater) with a flow rate of 320,000 m
3
.day
-1
, and natural
water sources such as Source Cherchar (Jardin d'Essai, Algiers) and the two basins Source (Ben
Aknoun). Moreover, Algiers counts nine Oued
1
, and three stations Hamma (Algiers), Fouka
(Tipaza) and a mono-block station at Palm Beach (Zéralda). The total drinking water production
capacity of more than 1 500 000 m
3
/day for a demand of less than one million m
3
, where the
supply is estimated at 165 liters. inhabitant
-1
.day
-1
(Monograph/ Algiers, 2016). The availability
1
Oued Smar, Oued Ouchaiah, Oued Kniss, Oued El Kerma, Oued El Hamiz, Oued M' kacel, Oued Reghaia, Oued
Beni Messous