Oran

Oran (Arabic: وهران, romanized: Wahrān, Tamazight: ⵡⴰⵀⵔⴰⵏ) is a major coastal city located in the northwest of Algeria. It is considered the second most important city of Algeria, after the capital, Algiers, because of its population and commercial, industrial and cultural importance. It is 432 km (268 mi) west-southwest from Algiers. The total population of the city was 803,329 in 2008, while the metropolitan area has a population of approximately 1,500,000, making it the second-largest city in Algeria by population. It is the capital of the Oran Province. Founded in 902 by the Andalusians, Oran experienced a succession of Arab-Berber dynasties and eventually became under the rule of the Zyyanid Dynasty. Occupied by the Spanish in 1509, it was reconquered in 1792 by the bey Mohamed el-Kebir. During French colonialization, it experienced rapid development and became the second largest Algerian city. After independence, it remained as the economic capital of western Algeria and its main financial, commercial, and industrial center.