Réghaïa

Infobox Algerian Municipality
map1 =
map2 = Algiers location.svg
name1 = Réghaïa
name2 = الرغاية
code = 1643
postal = 16112
province = Algiers
note1 =
district = Rouïba
note2 =
seats = 11
president =
alt1 = 20
alt2 = 68
area1 = 26,3
area2 = 10
population = 66,215
year = 1998
density1 = 2,518
density2 = 662
photo =
caption = |

Réghaïa is a municipality in Algiers province, Algeria. It is located in Rouïba district, and is an outer suburb of Algiers, and is the most populated municipality in the district, and also has its longest coastline.

Geography

It is located in the northern part of the plain of Mitidja, with sanyd beaches on the Mediterranean Sea, home to a Ramsar-recognized humid marsh and a lake having an area of 75 hectares (185 acres) and a length of 2.5 kilometers (1.6 miles), where a natural reserve is being built. There is also a 600 meter (1969 ft) long island there: "Hadjrat Bounha/Ile Agueli", one kilometer (0.6 miles) from the beach of Reghaïa.

History

Reghaïa was originally a settlement of the Kabyle tribe "Ghaya". There are traces of Roman presence near the lake. However, the urbanization of the area starts with the coming of the "Ouled Hadjadj" tribe coming from what is today Morocco. The Ottoman conquest of Algeria also adds some importance to the area (namely a now destructed brothel). During the start of French rule in Algeria, Reghaïa became a agricultural colony and 3000 hectares (7413 acres) where given to two French settler families "Mercier" and "Saussine" (the later being French American) in 1836 as a part of the French colonization of the area. The settlement, then laking basic transport infrastructure, starts to develop in 1854, and in 1959, it was composed of three neighborhoods: "Aurès", "Boulgourari", and "El Mokrani". The modern day municipality was created in 1974, 12 years after the Algerian Independence out of the municipality of Rouïba.

Economy

The built-up part of Reghaïa is located in the south of the municipality, and is an important commercial center, the northern part being still agricultural. The industrial park of Rouïba-Reghaïa covers 1000 hecates (2471 acres) and employs a quarter of the active population. Among the notable factories there are Citroën and Danone.

Transport

Reghaïa can be accessed by the beltway of Algiers or by commuter rail.

External links

* [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&time=&date=&ttype=&q=reghaia&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=33.435463,59.589844&ie=UTF8&ll=36.763092,3.34259&spn=0.528079,0.931091&z=10&iwloc=addr&om=1 Reghaïa] on Google Earth