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Ouled Naïl Range

Coordinates:34°40′0″N3°24′0″E/ 34.66667°N 3.40000°E/34.66667; 3.40000
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Ouled Naïl Range
سلسلة جبال أولاد نايل
Landscape of the range in the winter with the Djebel Selat near Bou Saada
Highest point
PeakDjebel Lazrag
Elevation1,491 m (4,892 ft)
Coordinates34°40′0″N3°24′0″E/ 34.66667°N 3.40000°E/34.66667; 3.40000[1]
Dimensions
Length180 km (110 mi) ENE/WSW
Width70 km (43 mi) NNW/SSE
Geography
Ouled Naïl Range سلسلة جبال أولاد نايل is located in Algeria
Ouled Naïl Range سلسلة جبال أولاد نايل
Ouled Naïl Range
سلسلة جبال أولاد نايل
CountryAlgeria
ProvincesM'Sila,DjelfaandLaghouat
Parent rangeSaharan Atlas
Geology
OrogenyAlpine orogeny
Age of rockPaleogene

TheOuled Naïl Range(Arabic:سلسلة جبال أولاد نايل,French:Monts des Ouled Naïl) is amountain rangeinAlgeria,part of theSaharan Atlasof the greaterAtlas Mountain System.The range is named after a confederation ofnomadicand semi-nomadic tribes, all of which claim to hail from Arab ancestors of Banu Hilal origin and this was proven by their genetics.

Geography

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The Ouled Naïl mountain range is formed by parallel ridges rising between the level 850 m high terrain of theHodnaregion of theHautes Plainesin the north and the 600 m of the southern plain of theDayas. It is located in the eastern zone of the Saharan Atlas, with theAmour Rangein the western and theZab Rangeat the eastern end.

The range is formed by mountains created byfoldsof the earlyTertiarywhich remained relatively undisturbed after formation but have been heavily eroded. Their altitude is relatively moderate, the highest point of the range, Djebel Lazrag (جبل الأزرق), not even reaching 1,500 m. However, towards the south the look of the highest ridges is quite spectacular, with jaggedsandstoneorlimestoneoutcrops and almost vertical walls. The part facing the Sahara has a less encumbered terrain with smooth mountaintops separated bywater gaps.[2]

The climate is dry in all the surrounding areas, but the rainfall is slightly better on the mountains. Therefore, cereal cultivation is possible in the heights, although with rather irregular results.[3]Date palmsare mostly absent throughout the range owing to the prevailing cold temperatures. They only grow in the few places at the feet of the Ouled Naïl mountains that are at an altitude below 600 m, such as near Bou Saada and the Oued Djedi.[2]

Human presence

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Two important towns are located in the immediate area of the range,Bou-Saadato the north at the feet of the mountains andDjelfain the middle of the range at an elevation of 1,208 m. North of Djelfa town there is an imposing physical feature known asRocher de Sel(English: Salt Rock) that was formed from the erosion ofrock saltsandmarlsby rain.[4]

To the west of the townMegalithicfunerary structures are found.Neolithic artis widespread in different caves and walls throughout the range.[5]

The range is well known for theOuled Naïlpeople living in its cold highlands. Djelfa is an important market centre for the Ouled Naïl who live in black-and-red striped tents and claim ancient Arab descent. These semi-nomadic or nomadic people have traditionally reared cattle in the mountain grasslands.[6]The years of drought and years with prolonged, cold winters are hard times for the Ouled Nail; in 1944 and 1947 about 50% of their livestock died.[2]

Features

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A flat-topped hill near Bou-Saada.
Satellite image of the eastern end of the range south ofBou Saâda.
Ouled Nail people dancing.

See also

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References

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  1. ^Google Earth
  2. ^abcGéographie de l'Afrique du Nord - L'Atlas Saharien
  3. ^Étude de la situation météorologique au Sahara en janvier 1958
  4. ^Scheffel, Richard L.; Wernet, Susan J., eds. (1980).Natural Wonders of the World.United States of America: Reader's Digest Association, Inc. p. 321.ISBN0-89577-087-3.
  5. ^Henri Lhote, F. de Villaret,Les gravures rupestres de l'Atlas saharien: monts des Ouled-Nail et région de Djelfa.1984
  6. ^A Different Perspective of Algeria
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