View source for Biskra

{{Infobox settlement
<!--See the Table at Infobox settlement for all fields and descriptions of usage-->
<!-- Basic info  ---------------->
|name                   =Biskra
|settlement_type        =Commune and city
|other_name             =
<!-- images and maps  ----------->
|image_skyline          =City Hall of Biskra.jpeg
|imagesize              =
|image_caption          = City Hall of Biskra, with the modern coat of arms visible at center-right
|image_flag             =
|flag_size              =
|image_seal             =
|seal_size              =
|image_shield           =
|shield_size            =
|image_blank_emblem     =
|blank_emblem_type      =
|blank_emblem_size      =
|image_map              =
|mapsize                =
|map_caption            =
|pushpin_map            = Algeria
|pushpin_label_position = above
|pushpin_mapsize        =
|pushpin_map_caption    = Location in Algeria
<!-- Location ------------------>
|coordinates_region     = DZ
|subdivision_type       = Country
|subdivision_name       = {{flag|Algeria}}
|subdivision_type1      = [[Provinces of Algeria|Province]]
|subdivision_name1      =[[Biskra Province]]
|subdivision_type2      = District
|subdivision_name2      =[[Biskra District]]
|subdivision_type3      =
|subdivision_name3      =
<!-- Politics ----------------->
|government_footnotes   =
|government_type        =
|leader_title           =
|leader_name            =
|established_title      =
|established_date       =
<!-- Area    --------------------->
|area_magnitude         =
|unit_pref                =
|area_footnotes           =
|area_total_km2
<!-- ALL fields dealing with a measurements are subject to automatic unit conversion-->
|area_land_km2            = <!--See table @ Template:Infobox Settlement for details on automatic unit conversion-->
|area_water_km2           =
|area_total_sq_mi         =
|area_land_sq_mi          =
|area_water_sq_mi         =
|area_water_percent       =
|area_metro_km2           =
|area_metro_sq_mi         =
<!-- Population   ----------------------->
|population_as_of               = 2007
|population_footnotes           =
|population_note                =
|population_total               =207,987
|population_density_km2         =
|population_density_sq_mi       =
|population_metro               =
|population_density_metro_km2   =
|population_density_metro_sq_mi =
|population_urban               =
|population_density_urban_km2   =
|population_density_urban_sq_mi =
<!-- General information  --------------->
|timezone               =+1
|utc_offset             = +1
|timezone_DST           =
|utc_offset_DST         =
|latd  =34|latm  = 51|lats  = | latNS  = N
|longd =5|longm =44|longs = | longEW = E
|elevation_footnotes    =  <!--for references: use <ref> </ref> tags-->
|elevation_m            =
|elevation_ft           =
<!-- Area/postal codes & others -------->
|postal_code_type       = <!-- enter ZIP code, Postcode, Post code, Postal code... -->
|postal_code            =
|area_code              =
|blank_name             =
|blank_info             =
|blank1_name            =
|blank1_info            =
|website                =
|footnotes              =
}}

{{Coord|34|51|N|5|44|E|display=title}}
'''Biskra'''  ({{lang-ar|'''بسكرة '''}}; [[Berber languages|Berber]]: [[Image:Biskra in Tifinagh.svg|65px]] ''Tibeskert'') is the capital city of [[Biskra (province)|Biskra province]], [[Algeria]]. In 2007, its population was recorded as 207,987.

[[Image:Desert Flower NGM-v31-p261.jpg|thumb|left||150px|Dancer in Biskra, published in March 1917 National Geographic.]]
During Roman times the town was called ''Vescera'', though this may have been simply a [[Latin]] transliteration of the native name. Around 200 AD under [[Septimius Severus]]' reign, it was seized by the Romans and became part of the province of [[Numidia]]. As a major settlement in the border region, it was significant even then. Its name was apparently [[bowdlerized]] by the Romans to ''Ad Piscīnam'' ("at the ''[[Piscina#History|piscīna]]''"), implying the presence of important waterworks.

As of 1935, Biskra was an inland town, the principal settlement of a Saharan [[oasis]] watered by the intermittent ''[[Oued]] Biskra''. It is in the southern part of the Algerian rail system, and a favorite winter resort. Large quantities of fruit, especially [[date (fruit)|dates]] and [[olives]], were grown in the vicinity. The town was a military post, and was the scene of severe fighting in the rebellions of 1849 and 1871.

With January temperatures averaging 11 °C, Biskra is a common vacation spot in winter.  Located in northeastern Algeria on the northern edge of the [[Sahara Desert]], the area surrounding it is very arid and most of the population lives in oasis.

The Hungarian composer [[Béla Bartók]] collected traditional music in Biskra in 1913.

Biskra is the setting of key sections of [[André Gide]]'s 1902 novel ''[[The Immoralist]]''.

{| class=wikitable
|+ Historical population
! Year !! Population<ref>[http://www.populstat.info/Africa/algeriat.htm populstat.info]</ref>
|-
| 1901 || 7,500
|-
| 1911 || 20,000
|-
| 1926 || 22,000
|-
| 1931 || 18,900
|-
| 1936 || 21,300
|-
| 1948 || 36,400
|-
| 1954 || 52,500
|-
| 1966 || 59,300
|-
| 1977 || 77,000 (town)<br>90,500 (municipality)
|-
| 1987 || 128,300
|-
| 1998 || 177,600
|}

==References==
*{{MW 1935|date=August 2008}}

{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{fr}} [http://www.biskra.us About Biskra]
*{{ar}} [http://forum.biskra7.com/  biskra forums]

{{Province seats of Algeria}}

{{Biskra Province}}

==Climate==
{{Weather box
|location = Biskra
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan high C = 16
|Feb high C = 18
|Mar high C = 22
|Apr high C = 26
|May high C = 31
|Jun high C = 36
|Jul high C = 42
|Aug high C = 41
|Sep high C = 34
|Oct high C = 28
|Nov high C = 21
|Dec high C = 17
|Jan low C = 7
|Feb low C = 8
|Mar low C = 11
|Apr low C = 14
|May low C = 18
|Jun low C = 24
|Jul low C = 27
|Aug low C = 26
|Sep low C = 23
|Oct low C = 17
|Nov low C = 12
|Dec low C = 7
|Jan precipitation mm = 18
|Feb precipitation mm = 10
|Mar precipitation mm = 18
|Apr precipitation mm = 10
|May precipitation mm = 15
|Jun precipitation mm = 8
|Jul precipitation mm = 3
|Aug precipitation mm = 3
|Sep precipitation mm = 18
|Oct precipitation mm = 15
|Nov precipitation mm = 23
|Dec precipitation mm = 18
|source 1 = [http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/world/city_guides/results.shtml?tt=TT000020]
|date=August 2010
}}

[[Category:Oases of Algeria]]
[[Category:Populated places in Biskra Province]]
[[Category:Communes of Algeria]]

[[ar:بسكرة]]
[[bn:বিসক্রা]]
[[br:Biskra]]
[[ca:Biskra]]
[[da:Biskra]]
[[de:Biskra]]
[[fr:Biskra]]
[[hr:Biskra]]
[[id:Biskra]]
[[it:Biskra]]
[[lt:Biskra]]
[[nl:Biskra]]
[[no:Biskra]]
[[ru:Бискра (город)]]
[[sh:Biskra]]
[[sv:Biskra]]
[[war:Biskra]]
[[zh:比斯克拉]]