| Native name | ولاية ورقلة |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 31°57′N 5°19′E |
| Country | Algeria |
| Capital | Ouargla |
| Unit pref | Metric |
| Area total | 194552 km² |
| Population total | 552539 |
| Population as of | 2008 |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+01) |
| Iso code | DZ-30 |
| Area Code | +213 32 |
| Districts | 6 |
| Municipalities | 10 |
| Population est | 708,463 |
| Pop est as of | 2019 |
Ouargla or Warqla (Arabic: ولاية ورقلة) is a province (wilaya) in eastern Algeria, with a population of 708 463 inhabitants in 2019. Its capital is Ouargla. Other localities include Hassi Ben Abdellah and Hassi Messaoud. It borders Ouled Djellal Province, El M'Ghair Province Touggourt Province, and El Oued Province to the north, Tunisia to the east, In Salah Province and Illizi Province to the south, and El Menia Province, Ghardaia Province and Djelfa Province to the west. It contains the Issaouane Erg desert.
History
In the past Ouargla was the center of trading of gold and slaves,[1] as well as being an important center of Ibadi Islam. However, the Ibadis left for the M'zab valley.
In 1984 Illizi Province was carved out of its territory.
In 2019, Touggourt Province was carved out of its territory.
Administrative divisions
The province is divided into 4 districts (daïras), which are further divided into 7 communes or municipalities.[2]
Districts
| District | Commune | Arabic |
|---|---|---|
| Hassi Messaoud District | Hassi Messaoud | حاسي مسعود |
| N'Goussa District | N'Goussa | ﻧﻘﻮﺳﺔ |
| Ouargla District | Ouargla | ورقلة |
| Rouissat | اﻟﺮوﻳﺴﺎت | |
| Sidi Khouïled District | Aïn Beida | ﻋﻴﻦ اﻟﺒﻴﻀﺎء |
| Hassi Ben Abdellah | ﺣﺎﺳﻲ ﺑﻦ ﻋﺒﺪ اﷲ | |
| Sidi Khouiled | ﺳﻴﺪي ﺧﻮﻳﻠﺪ |
Geology
The region lies within the Algerian Triassic Sedimentary basin containing numerous oil and gas fields, including the Alrar gas field.[3] Production is from Triassic sandstones with Andesitic seals and the Gothlandian shale as a source rock.[4] Major fields include the Hassi R'Mel gas field, Haoud-Berkaolu, Ben-Kahla, and the Guellala.[4]
References
- ^ "Synagogue at Ouargla, Algeria | Archive | Diarna.org". archive.diarna.org. Retrieved 2025-10-12.
- ^ "Art. 52 bis 6". "Loi n° 19-12 du 14 Rabie Ethani 1441 correspondant au 11 décembre 2019 modifiant et complétant la loi n° 84-09 du 4 février 1984 relative à l'organisation territoriale du pays." (Journal Officiel de la République algérienne). No. n° 78. 11 December 2019. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
- ^ Hamouda, A., 1980, Petroleum Potential-Ouargla Region Triassic Basin, Algeria, in Giant Oil and Gas Fields of the Decade: 1968-1978, AAPG Memoir 30, Halbouty, M.T., editor, Tulsa: American Association of Petroleum Geologists, ISBN 0891813063, p. 539
- ^ Hamouda, A., 1980, Petroleum Potential-Ouargla Region Triassic Basin, Algeria, in Giant Oil and Gas Fields of the Decade: 1968-1978, AAPG Memoir 30, Halbouty, M.T., editor, Tulsa: American Association of Petroleum Geologists, ISBN 0891813063, p. 540