Biskra, town, northeastern Algeria, in Biskra Province. The town lies in a fertile oasis of the Sahara and is a trading center for nomads. Fruit growing is a major enterprise; dates, olives, apricots, and pomegranates are the principal crops. Because of the equable climate the town is a popular winter resort. Fort Saint Germain, which was an important French military post during the French occupation of Algeria, is situated here. In antiquity a Roman military station stood on the site of Biskra. The Arab conqueror of North Africa, Okba, was killed near the town; his tomb bears the oldest known Arabic inscription in North Africa. In 1844, after centuries of Moorish rule, Biskra was seized by the French. Population (1987) 128,280.Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2001
http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2001 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Biskra Information info
|
