Touggourt

Touggourt (Arabic: ﺗﻗﺮت or تڤرت; Berber languages: ⵜⵓⴳⵓⵔⵜ, romanized: Tugurt, lit. 'the gateway' or 'the gate') is a city and commune, former sultanate and capital of Touggourt District, in Touggourt Province, Algeria, built next to an oasis in the Sahara. As of the 2008 census, the commune had a population of 39,409 people, up from 32,940 in 1998, and an annual growth rate of 1.8%. Touggourt's urban area includes the communes of Nezla, Tebesbest and Zaouia El Abidia, for a total population of 146,108.

Touggourt is notable for its date trees. It was formerly surrounded by a moat, which the French filled up. Bradt Travel Guides describe it as "largely a modern town of block architecture" and "largely unattractive. The centre is quiet most of the day due to the heat but is more active at night when people take to the streets."

Sultanate of Tunis pre 1414
 Sultanate of Tuggurt 1414–1552
 Sultanate of Tuggurt, (tributary of the Ottoman Empire) 1552–1830
 Sultanate of Tuggurt 1830–1844
France, (French Algeria) 1844–1871
Mokrani Revolt 1871–1872
France, (French Algeria) 1871-1962
Algeria 1962–present

In 1414 the Sultanate of Tuggert was founded in southern Algeria. The known Sultans (and one female ruler) were:

The Tuggurt Expedition (1552) is also a notable historical event.

In 1854 the sultanate was abolished by French colonial authorities in Algeria.

Touggourt, as it is now spelled, became one of the initial six (1902), then four (1905) autonomous administrative districts of the Territoires du Sud [fr] (Southern Territories), which in 1957 were first joined, then reorganized into two regular French départements. Tuggert became part of Oasis (prefecture seat Ouargla).

Touggourt lies on the western side of an extensive system of oases which supports palm plantations and other agriculture in an area 50 kilometres (31 mi) from north to south. Other towns around the oases are Sidi Slimane and Megarine to north, and Tamacine and Balidat Ameur to the south. The system is also associated with more oases further north in El Oued Province including the towns of Djamaa and El M'Ghair. Beyond the oases, the land is arid and barren, with extensive sand dunes both to the west and east of the city.