Bou Saâda

Bou Saada (, bu s‘adah, meaning "place of happiness") city, capital of Bou Saada province. situated at the crossroads between the mountainous north and the Sahara Desert, in north-central Algeria. It lies approximately 198 kilometers south of the Algerian capital, and about 183 kilometers from the Mediterranean coast.

Geography Bou-Saada is located in the southwest of the Hodna region in the Hauts Plateaux, at the feet of the Ouled Naïl Range of the Saharan Atlas.

Bou-Saada has traditionally been an important market place producing and selling jewelry, metalwork, carpets and bousaadi knives. There is also a textile mill in town. Even in modern times, Bou-Saada is an important trading post for nomads. There is also some national tourism during winter. Bou-Saada is well-connected with other urban centres by road. M'Sila is 70 km northeast, Biskra is 175 km east, Bordj Bou Arreridj 130 km northeast and Djelfa 120 km southwest. Bou-Saada has two quarters, the old medina (ksar) within the city walls with arched alleyways, and the French town to the south. Surrounding the town are extensive date groves.

+ Historical population Year Population 1954 66,800 1966 26,300 1977 46,800 (town)50,100 (municipality) 1987 68,700 1998 99,800 2000 104,800 2008 134,000

Climate Bou Saada has a cold desert climate (Köppen climate classification BWk). Rainfall is higher in winter than in summer. The average annual temperature in Bou Saada is . About of precipitation falls annually.

Rock art In the municipality, located not far from the village of Ben Srour, are several petroglyph sites of archaeological interest.Tixier, J. (1958-1960) Gravures rupestres de Bou Saâda (Algérie)" Bulletin de la Société Royale Belge d'Études Géologiques et Archéologiques 17: pp. 21-27, in FrenchPoyto, R. (1976) "Les rupestres de Ben-S'rour, Daïra de Bou-Saâda" Libyca Alger 24: pp. 195-202, in French

Bou Saâda

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