Laghouat

Laghouat (Tamazight: ⵍⴻⵖⵡⴰⵟ, romanized: Leghwaṭ, Arabic: الأغواط, romanized: al-Aghwāṭ) is the capital of the Laghouat Province, Algeria, 400 km (250 mi) south of the Algerian capital Algiers. Located in the Amour Range of the Saharan Atlas, the town is an oasis on the north edge of the Sahara Desert. It is an important administrative and military center and marketplace, and is known for rug and tapestry weaving. Laghouat traces its history to at least the 11th century. It was ruled by the Ottoman Turks in 1786 and annexed to Beylik of Titteri (Médéa). The town experienced the brutal Siege of Laghouat in 1852, and came under French colonial rule until 1962. It was formerly the administrative center of one of the four "Territories of the South" forming the region of Algeria administered under Martial Law until the reform instituted by the Statue of Algiers law of 20 September 1947. The population of the town was 134,373 inhabitants in 2008. There are natural gas deposits in the region, and nearby Hassi R'Mel has the second largest natural gas reserve in Africa. The city is served by Laghouat Airport.