Chlef (, Berber: ⴰⴳⴻⵣⴷⵓ ⵏ ⵛⵍⴻⴼ) (formerly known as El Asnam) is a province (wilaya) in Algeria with its capital and biggest city being Chlef. It is the 8th most populous province in the country, having 1.356.151 inhabitants (2021).
Chlef Province is an important agricultural region, as it is located on the plain of the Middle Chelif Basin and has access to an abundance of water resources. 65.43% of the province is dedicated to agriculture. Other notable industries in the province include breeding, glass production, and plastic processing. As well as these industries, Chlef Province is also home to two dams.
Being located in the Atlas Mountains, Chlef also has a sizeable seismic risk, being struck by a 6.7 magnitude earthquake in 1954 and a 7.1 magnitude earthquake in 1980.
History The province was originally named El Asnam until 1980 when it became known at Ech Chéliff, later known as Chlef.
In 1980, a 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck the province, killing up to 5,000 and displacing 300,000.
In 1984, Aïn Defla Province was carved out of its territory.
Geography
Location The province of Chlef is located at the Western Tell, in the Algérois region 200 km west of Algiers.
Administrative divisions The province is divided into 13 districts (daïras), which are further divided into 35 communes or municipalities.
Districts
Abou El Hassan (دائرة أبو الحسن) Aïn Merane (دائرة عين مران) Béni Haoua (دائرة بني حواء) Boukadir (دائرة بوقادير) Chlef (دائرة شلف) El Karimia (دائرة الكريمية) El Marsa (دائرة المرسى) Oued Fodda (دائرة وادي الفضة) Ouled Ben Abdelkader (دائرة اولاد بن عبد القادر) Ouled Farès (دائرة اولاد فارس) Taougrit (دائرة تاوقريت) Ténès (دائرة تنس) Zeboudja (دائرة زبوجة)
Communes No. Commune Arabic Population 01 Chlef الشلف 02 Ténès تنس 03 Benairia (Bénairia) بنايرية 04 El Karimia الكريمية 05 Tadjna (Tadjena) تأجنة 06 Taougrit (Taougrite) تاوقريت 07 Beni Haoua بنى حواء 08 Sobha صبحة 09 Harchoun (Harchoune) حرشون 10 Ouled Fares أولاد فارس 11 Sidi Akkacha سيدى عكاشة 12 Boukadir بوقادير 13 Beni Rached بنى راشد 14 Talassa (Telassa) تلعصة 15 Harenfa (Herenfa) الھرنفة 16 Oued Gousine (Oued Goussine) وادى قوسين 17 Dahra الظھرة 18 Ouled Abbes أولاد عباس 19 Sendjas السنجاس 20 Zeboudja الزبوجة 21 Oued Sly وادى سلى 22 Abou El Hassen (Abou El Hassan) أبو الحسن 23 El Marsa المرسى 24 Chettia الشطية 25 Sidi Abderrahmane سيدي عبد الرحمان 26 Moussadek مصدق 27 El Hadjadj الحجاج 28 Labiod Medjadja الابيض مجاجة 29 Oued Fodda وادى الفضة 30 Ouled Ben Abdelkader أولاد بن عبد القادر 31 Bouzghaia (Bouzeghaia) بوزغاية 32 Ain Merane (Aïn Merane, Ain Merrane) عين مران 33 Oum Drou أم الذروع 34 Breira بريرة 35 Beni Bouateb (Beni Bouattab) بنى بوعتاب
References
External links
A website about Chlef Province