Gardaia

Gardaia, or GHARDAÏA, in the Algerian Sahara, stands on a conical hill, in an oasis-valley full of date-palms, 1740 feet above sea-level, and about 200 miles south-west of Biskra. In 1882 a fort was built by the French, who placed a garrison here. Pop. of the oasis (which is the capital of the Wady Mزاب) with the garrison, 40,000. Roman ruins show that the oasis was once much more extensive. Just 85 miles to the SE. lies the oasis of Wargla (Ouargla), officially associated with Gardaia. An extension hither of the Biskra railway is projected.