Touggourt is a city and commune, former sultanate and capital of Touggourt District, in Ouargla Province, Algeria, built next to an oasis in the Sahara. As of the 2008 census, the commune had a population of 39,409 people, up from 32,940 in 1998, and an annual growth rate of 1.8%. Touggourt's urban area includes the communes of Nezla, Tebesbest and Zaouia El Abidia, for a total population of 146,108. Touggourt is notable for its date trees. It was formerly surrounded by a moat, which the French filled up. Bradt Travel Guides describe it as "largely a modern town of block architecture" and "largely unattractive. The centre is quiet most of the day due to the heat but is more active at night when people take to the streets."
History
In 1414 the Sultanate of Tuggert was founded in southern Algeria. The known Sultans were:
The Tuggurt Expedition is also a notable historical event. In 1854 the sultanate was abolished by French colonial authorities in Algeria. Touggourt, as it is now spelled, became one of the initial six, then four autonomous administrative districts of the , which in 1957 were first joined, then reorganized into two regular French départements. Tuggert became part of Oasis.
Geography
Touggourt lies on the western side of an extensive system of oases which supports palm plantations and other agriculture in an area from north to south. Other towns around the oases are Sidi Slimane and Megarine to north, and Tamacine and Balidat Ameur to the south. The system is also associated with more oases further north in El Oued Province including the towns of Djamaa and El M'Ghair. Beyond the oases, the land is arid and barren, with extensive sand dunes both to the west and east of the city.
Climate
Touggourt has a hot desert climate, with long, extremely hot summers and short, warm winters. Average high temperatures are consistently over 40 °C during June, July, August and September and reach a maximum of nearly 45 °C in July. Average low temperatures in summer are also very high, above 26 °C and routinely above 29 °C in the hottest month. Average annual rainfall is around 55 mm and summers are especially dry.
Transportation
Touggourt lies at the junction of the N3 and N16 roads, northeast of the provincial capital of Ouargla. It is connected by railway to Biskra and is served by the Sidi Madhi Airport. The N3 highway connects to Megarine, Sidi Slimane, and Biskra to the north and Hassi Messaoud and Illizi to the south. The N16 connects to Taibet and El Oued to the east. Another road, the Route Messaad Tougourt, connects to Messaâd and Djelfa to the northwest. Local roads connect to nearby towns Megarine and Tamacine.
