El Menia

El Menia
المنيعة
Commune and town
View of El Menia
View of El Menia
Location of El Menia commune within Ghardaïa Province
Location of El Menia commune within Ghardaïa Province
El Menia is located in Algeria
El Menia
El Menia
Location of El Menia within Algeria
Coordinates: 30°35′N 2°53′E / 30.583°N 2.883°E / 30.583; 2.883
Country Algeria
ProvinceGhardaïa Province
DistrictEl Ménia District
Elevation
380 m (1,250 ft)
Population
 (2008)[1]
 • Total40,195
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
The grave of Charles de Foucauld

El Menia (Arabic: المنيعة) is an oasis town and commune, and capital of El Ménia District, in Ghardaïa Province, Algeria. The former name is El Goléa (Arabic: القليعة); together in Arabic, the two names mean Impregnable Castle.[2] According to the 2008 census it has a population of 40,195,[1] up from 28,848 in 1998,[3] with an annual growth rate of 3.4%.[1] The area is inhabited by the Zenete Berbers. El Menia oasis grows many agricultural products. The grave of the French priest Charles de Foucauld is located in the town.

  1. ^ a b c "Population: Ghardaïa Wilaya" (PDF) (in French). Office National des Statistiques Algérie. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 May 2013. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  2. ^ "El-Golea" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. VIII (9th ed.). 1878. p. 133.
  3. ^ "Algeria Communes". Statoids. Retrieved 9 March 2013.