Abalessa

Abalessa

أبلسة
Abalessa أبلسة
Town andcommune
	Location of Abalessa commune within Tamanrasset Province
	Abalessa Location of Abalessa within Algeria
	Coordinates:22°53′24″N4°50′50″E/ 22.89000°N 4.84722°E
Country	Algeria
Province	Tamanrasset
District	Abalessa(coextensive)
Government
•PMA Seats	7
Area
• Total	74,563 km2(28,789 sq mi)
Elevation	909 m (2,982 ft)
Population (2008)
• Total	9,163
• Density	0.12/km2(0.32/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01(CET)
Postal code	11120
ONScode	1102

Abalessais a town andcommuneinTamanrasset Province,in southernAlgeria,coextensive with thedistrictof the same name. According to the 2008 census it has a population of 9,163^[1]up from 6,484 in 1998,^[2]with an annual growth rate of 3.6%.^[1]Abalessa is located along the ancientTrans-Saharan trade route,80 kilometres (50 mi) west of the city ofTamanrasset,the capital of the province. The postcode of the town is 11120.

History

The former capital of theAhaggar,Abalessa is famous for theTin Hinan Tomb.This 1,500 year old monumental grave is dedicated to the Tuareg matriarchTin Hinan,and vestiges of aTifinaghinscription have been found on one of its walls.^[3]According toHenri Lhote,the edifice may have built on top of an earlierRoman castrumsince its architecture is different from the surrounding tombs and similar to that used by the Roman legionaries to construct their desert fortifications.^[4]

On 18 October 1927,Byron Khun de Prorokdiscovered a vault near Abalessa containing askeleton,belonging to a woman, and her furniture. In his bookMysterious Sahara: The Land of Gold, of Sand, and of RuinKhun de Prorok attributed the skeleton to Tin Hinan. Today, the skeleton is on display at theBardo MuseuminAlgiers,while the monument where it was discovered continues to be a popular tourist attraction in Abalessa among visitors to the Tamanrasset.^{[citation needed]}

Geography

The municipality reaches an average elevation of approximately 909 metres (2,982 ft) above sea level. The main town lies at an elevation of 893 metres (2,930 ft), at the confluence of the two intermittentwadisOued RellacheneandOued Iheri.^[5]A rocky mountain range, part of theAhaggar Mountainsrises to the west of the town reaching about 1,200 metres (3,900 ft). There is significant vegetation in the river valleys; the area belongs to theWest Saharan montane xeric woodlands ecoregion.

Transportation

The N55A national highway, which branches off from theTrans-Sahara Highway(route N1) atTit,is the main road through the area, passing just south of Abalessa.

Education

4.6% of the population has a tertiary education, and another 12.4% has completed secondary education.^[6]The overall literacy rate is 78.7%, and is 85.4% among males and 70.8% among females.^[7]

Localities

The commune is composed of eight localities:^[8]

References

^^a ^b ^c"Population: Wilaya de Tamanrasset"(PDF)(in French). Office National des Statistiques Algérie. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 13 November 2011.Retrieved30 May2013.
^"Algeria Communes".Statoids.Retrieved8 March2013.
^Briggs, L. Cabot (February 1957). "A Review of the Physical Anthropology of the Sahara and Its Prehistoric Implications".Man.56:20–23.doi:10.2307/2793877.JSTOR 2793877.
^Henri Lhote. "Alla scoperta del Tassili" p. 180-183 ([1])
^"Africa AMS Topographic Maps - Sahara".University of Texal Libraries.Retrieved31 May2013.
^"Structure relative de la population résidente des ménages ordinaires et collectifs âgée de 6 ans et plus selon le niveau d'instruction et la commune de résidence"(PDF)(in French). Office National des Statistiques Algérie. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 13 November 2011.Retrieved30 May2013.
^"Taux d'analphabétisme et taux d'alphabétisation de la population âgée de 15 ans et plus, selon le sexe et la commune de résidence"(PDF)(in French). Office National des Statistiques Algérie. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 13 November 2011.Retrieved30 May2013.
^"Décret n° 84-365, fixant la composition, la consistance et les limites territoriale des communes. Wilaya de Tamanghasset"(PDF)(in French). Journal officiel de la République Algérienne. 19 December 1984. p. 1496. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 5 May 2015.Retrieved2 March2013.

Neighbouring towns and cities

[census2008-1] "Population: Wilaya de Tamanrasset"(PDF)(in French). Office National des Statistiques Algérie. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 13 November 2011.Retrieved30 May2013.

[2] "Algeria Communes".Statoids.Retrieved8 March2013.

[3] Briggs, L. Cabot (February 1957). "A Review of the Physical Anthropology of the Sahara and Its Prehistoric Implications".Man.56:20–23.doi:10.2307/2793877.JSTOR 2793877.

[4] Henri Lhote. "Alla scoperta del Tassili" p. 180-183 ([1])

[5] "Africa AMS Topographic Maps - Sahara".University of Texal Libraries.Retrieved31 May2013.

[6] "Structure relative de la population résidente des ménages ordinaires et collectifs âgée de 6 ans et plus selon le niveau d'instruction et la commune de résidence"(PDF)(in French). Office National des Statistiques Algérie. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 13 November 2011.Retrieved30 May2013.

[7] "Taux d'analphabétisme et taux d'alphabétisation de la population âgée de 15 ans et plus, selon le sexe et la commune de résidence"(PDF)(in French). Office National des Statistiques Algérie. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 13 November 2011.Retrieved30 May2013.

[8] "Décret n° 84-365, fixant la composition, la consistance et les limites territoriale des communes. Wilaya de Tamanghasset"(PDF)(in French). Journal officiel de la République Algérienne. 19 December 1984. p. 1496. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 5 May 2015.Retrieved2 March2013.

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