Béchar
Béchar (Arabic: بشار) is the capital city of Béchar Province, Algeria. It is also a commune, coextensive with Béchar District, of Béchar Province. In 2008 the city had a population of 165,627, up from 134,954 in 1998, with an annual growth rate of 2.1%. The commune covers an area of 5,050 square kilometres (1,950 sq mi).
Béchar
بشار | |
|---|---|
| City Béchar | |
1st of November Square | |
Location of Béchar commune within Béchar Province | |
Béchar Location of Béchar within Algeria | |
| Coordinates: 31°37′N 2°13′W | |
| Country | Algeria |
| Province | Béchar |
| District | Béchar District |
| Government | |
| • PMA Seats | 23 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5,050 km2 (1,950 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 747 m (2,451 ft) |
| Population (2008) | |
| • Total | 165,627 |
| • Density | 33/km2 (85/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| Postal code | 08000 |
| ONS code | 0801 |
| Climate | BWh |
Béchar thrived on the activity of the coal mines until petroleum production seized the market.
Leatherwork and jewellery are notable products of Béchar. Dates, vegetables, figs, cereals and almonds are produced near Béchar. There are bituminous coal reserves near Béchar, but they are not exploited to their greatest potential because of transportation costs are too high relative to that from the oil and gas fields of eastern Algeria. The city was once the site of a French Foreign Legion post.
The Kenadsa longwave transmitter, whose masts are the tallest structures in Algeria at 357 metres (1,171 ft), is found near Béchar.