Berriane بريان
Commune and town
Location of Berriane commune within Ghardaïa Province
Berriane Location of Berriane within Algeria
Coordinates: 32°50′N 3°46′E / 32.833°N 3.767°E / 32.833; 3.767
Country	Algeria
Province	Ghardaïa Province
District	Bérianne District (coextensive)
Area
• Total	2.25 km2 (0.87 sq mi)
Elevation	539 m (1,768 ft)
Population  (2008)[1]
• Total	30,200
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)

Berriane (from Tamazight: Bergan) (Arabic: بريان) is a medium-sized town and commune in the south of Algeria, coextensive with Bérianne District, in Ghardaïa Province, Algeria. It is located in the north of the Sahara desert, in the extreme North of the wilaya of Ghardaïa, 554 kilometres (344 mi) south of Algiers and 43 kilometres (27 mi) north of Ghardaïa City. As of the 2008 census it has a population of 30,200,^[1] up from 24,802 in 1998,^[2] with an annual growth rate of 2.0%.^[1] It occupies an area of 2.250 km².^{[citation needed]}

History

Archaeological, prehistoric and historical testimonies indicate that the area of Berriane was inhabited since at least the Neolithic era. The population of Berriane are principally of Zenata Mozabite origin.

The town of Berriane forms an integral part of the history of the area of M'zab. It is chronologically the youngest of all the cities of the M'zab region.^{[citation needed]}

Recent events

Although an ancient Berber town, with a majority Zenata Ibadi population, in recent years many Chaambi (Bedouin) Arabs have settled there. In March 2008 and February 2009 it was the scene of heavy riots between Berbers and Arabs,^[3] in which at least 4 native Berbers were killed.^{[citation needed]}

Geography

In addition to its regional importance from the demographic, economic and cultural point of view, the commune of Berriane occupies a strategic position, connecting the cities of the South to those of the North.

Its green palm grove forms a beautiful oasis which offers to its urban environment a more pleasant microclimate in an area characterized by an arid climate.

Climate

Berriane has a hot desert climate (Köppen climate classification BWh), with very hot summers and mild winters, and very little precipitation throughout the year.

Transportation

Berriane is crossed by the National Road 01, one of the country's important communication lines, and part of the Trans-Sahara Highway. The road leads north to Laghouat and Djelfa, and south to Ghardaïa, In Salah and Tamanrasset.

Culture

Berriane is known for its pretty handicraft carpets and its artisanal products manufactured by highly qualified creators. It is also known for its folklore, culture heritage, ancestral culinary art and architecture.

Economy

In addition to its agricultural economy centered around date palms, Berriane is also an attractive city for tourists, featuring engravings and rock frescos dating from prehistory, inscriptions in the Tamazight alphabet called Tifinagh, and historic buildings and architecture similar to other cities of the internationally famous M'Zab. The M'Zab region has classified by UNESCO as a world cultural heritage on its World Heritage List.^[5]

Education

6.3% of the population has a tertiary education, and another 15.3% has completed secondary education.^[6] The overall literacy rate is 88.3% (the second highest in the province), and is 93.3% among males and 83.2% among females (also the second highest in the province).^[7]

Localities

The commune of Berriane is composed of two localities:^[8]