Bordj Badji Mokhtar


Bordj Badji Mokhtar is a town and commune in Bordj Badji Mokhtar District, Adrar Province, in south-western Algeria. According to the 2008 census it has a population of 16,437, up from 9,323 in 1998, with an annual growth rate of 6.0%, the highest in the province.
The Prime Meridian passes near Bordj Badji Mokhtar.

Geography

Bordj Badji Mokhtar is located at an elevation of in the Tanezrouft, a desolate and mostly flat area in the Sahara Desert. The region is extremely sparsely populated with only four significant settlements in the Algerian part. Unlike most other towns in Saharan Algeria, Bordj Badji Mokhtar is not settled near an oasis but water is available from wells dug underground.

Climate

Bordj Badji Mokhtar has a hot desert climate, with long, extremely hot summers and short but hot winters, and very little rainfall throughout the year as the town only averages 38 mm of rainfall. Occasional showers and thunderstorms do occur from July to September due as the town falls under the far northern edge of influence of the West African Monsoon.

Transportation

Bordj Badji Mokhtar is very distant from other population centres, but the N6 national highway does connect it to Reggane and Adrar to the north and Timiaouine to the southeast. The smuggling of drugs, fuel and migrants is an important economic activity in the area, employing the El-Khalil border crossing into Mali, about southeast of the town.
Bordj Badji Mokhtar is served by Bordj Badji Mokhtar Airport.

Education

1.2% of the population has a tertiary education, and another 4.4% has completed secondary education. The overall literacy rate is 26.1%, and is 33.3% among males and 17.8% among females.

Localities

As of 1984, the commune was composed of one locality:
  • Bordj Badji Mokhtar