Iherir


Iherir is a village in the commune of Bordj El Houasse, in Djanet Province, Algeria. It is in a river valley named Oued Iherir near the center of the Tassili n'Ajjer mountain range, south of the provincial capital Illizi. The area has been populated since Neolithic times; the population living in the valley has continuously been over 1,000 during the 20th century.

Geography

Iherir is located at an elevation of above sea level. Its valley is an oasis containing gueltas and numerous date palms. The town is notable for the dramatic rocky mountain ranges that rise as much as on all sides. Prehistoric art dated to 9000 BC is found in the Iheren sites on the nearby Tadjelahine plateau. The valley is protected as a nature park, but protection applies only to the frescoes, not to the fauna or flora. It is also considered a "wetland of global interest" by the Ramsar Convention.
The gueltas near Iherir are flanked by Cape bulrush, with oleanders and French Tamarisks abundant along the river bed. Notable animals include jungle cats and sand cats.

Climate

Iherir has a hot desert climate, with very hot summers and mild winters, and very little precipitation throughout the year. Rainfall is very erratic, with as much as falling locally in some years due storms resulting from the temporary extension of the Intertropical Convergence Zone into the area. When rain does fall, water may flow continuously in Oued Iherir for as long as six months. Snow has been recorded several times on the highest nearby mountains.

Economy

The local economy is centered on agriculture, with production of wheat, dates, figs, grapes, and root crops. Camels, cattle and goats are grazed, and fishing from the gueltas is also significant. There is also some tourism associated mainly with the nearby frescoes.

Transportation

There are no paved roads to the town, which is accessible only by rough tracks. The main track leads south to the N3 national highway between Illizi and Bordj El Houasse.