Presentation of the wilaya

The wilaya of Tizi Ouzou (in Berber : Tanebḍit n Tizi Wezzu / in Tifinagh : ⵜⴰⵏⴻⴱⴹⵉⵜ ⵏ ⵜⵉⵣⵉ ⵡⴻⵣⵓ / in Arabic : ولاية تيزي وزو ), is a wilaya Algerian located in the region of Grande Kabylie in the heart of the Djurdjura massif.

It is administratively divided into 67 communes and 21 daïras.

GEOGRAPHICAL SITUATION (Relief-Climate…)

The wilaya of Tizi Ouzou is located in the North of Algeria , in the region of Kabylie , it is delimited:

·         to the west by the wilaya of Boumerdès ;

·         to the south by the wilaya of Bouira ;

·         to the east by the wilaya of Béjaïa ;

·         to the north by the Mediterranean Sea .

relief :

The coastal range includes approximately the territory located from the right bank of the Sebaou to the sea, i.e. all the communes under the dairates of Tigzirt , Makouda , Ouaguenoun , Azeffoun and Azazga , as well as the commune of Sidi Namane attached to the Daïra of Draâ Ben Khedda (21 municipalities in total).

-The Massif Central

-The Djurdjura, often considered synonymous with Kabylia.

Weather :

During the last decade, the average annual rainfall in the Wilaya has varied between 500 and 800 mm. Summers are very hot, winters are mild and rainy, sunshine is very high.

The hydrographic network contains two (02) major watersheds, namely the Oued- Sebaou basin and the coastal basin.

ECONOMIC POTENTIAL

Agricultural Potentials

The usable agricultural area (UAA) of the wilaya estimated at 98,842 hectares remains very small: It represents only 33% of the total area of the wilaya.

Only 8,579 hectares are irrigated out of an irrigable potential of 12,000 hectares. The irrigable lands are mainly located in the Sebaou valley (7050 ha), the Draa-El- Mizan corridor (3,211 ha) and the Azeffoun plain (1,000 ha).

Due to its mountainous nature, the SAU is dominated by arboriculture (mainly olive trees and fig trees) in this case 45,552 hectares or 46% of its total space. The other speculations are represented by fodder crops (30%), market gardening (7%), pulses (0.8%) and viticulture (1.2%).

Breeding

Cattle 127,224 head including 54,103 Dairy cows
Sheep 214,950 head including 72,469 Ewe Goats 66,685
head including 29,108 Goats
Horses 110 head Broiler chickens 9,397,996 Laying hens 620,300 Full
beehives
101,800
beehives
Mother rabbits

Peach

The wilaya of Tizi-Ouzou has a coastline 85 km long, or 6% of the Algerian coast. The maritime fringe covers five (05) municipalities ( Tigzirt , Mizrana , Iflissen , Azeffoun and Aït Chafâa ). The reserved fishing area is 8,185 km ² and the area reserved for coastal fishing is 944.52 km ² . The halieutic potential is estimated at 26,000 tonnes, including 8,000 to 8,500 t of fishable stock

Industry

Large companies are located in the wilaya of Tizi-Ouzou, particularly in the Idir industrial zone. Aissat ( Oued Aïssi ) located 10 km east of Tizi Ouzou and that of Freha 30 km .

Number of activity zones and industrial zones:

-           1 operational industrial zone, located in Oued Aissi ;

-           17 activity zones spread over the wilaya.

ECONOMIC, ADMINISTRATIVE AND SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURES

Hydraulic

The hydrographic network contains two (02) major watersheds, namely the Oued Sebaou basin and the coastal basin.
The main drinking water resource of the wilaya is drawn from: The alluvial aquifer of Oued Sebaou : 36% Surface resources (dams): 58% Surface sources, water intake: 5% Desalination: 1%

 This wilaya includes the dams following:

·         Taksebt Dam

 Road network

Port infrastructure :
The wilaya has 2 Port fishing areas in TIGZIRT and AZZEFOUN.

 Railway network :
The rail network links the towns of Tadmait , Drâa -Benkhedda, Boukhalfa and Tizi - Ouzou to Thenia in the wilaya of Boumerdès .

Education:

Number of primary schools: 652 with 95,562 pupils

Number of CEMs: 176 with 66,716 pupils

Number of high schools: 58 with 46,788 pupils

Health

The hospital infrastructure of the wilaya consists of 11 hospitals (of which 02 operate in CHU) and an urban delivery clinic ( S'Bihi ).
All of these public infrastructures have a total capacity of 2,474 technical beds, ie a coverage rate of 2.18 beds/1,000 inhabitants. (including the CHU and the psychiatric hospital of Oued- Aissi which are establishments with a regional vocation).
With regard to light infrastructure, the wilaya has
  57 EPSPs (formerly polyclinics) totaling 135 technical beds (including health centers and certain treatment rooms set up as polyclinics)
  30 integrated maternities with a capacity of 362 beds.
  02 rural maternities (13 beds).
  263 treatment rooms.

TOURIST ACTIVITIES

Due to the variety of its natural resources, the wilaya of Tizi-Ouzou is considered one of the most touristic regions of the country. It contains a natural potential alternating between seaside tourism (coastal region) and climatic tourism (mountain region) to which must be added an undeniable artisanal and archaeological wealth.

The wilaya has a rich archaeological heritage, a large part of which is located in the coastal area of TIGZIRT and AZEFFOUN.
Tigzirt served as the site for the construction of a Roman city. Among the remains of the passage of the Romans we can mention the Temple of Genius which dates from the 3rd century and the Christian Basilica.
The agglomeration of AZEFFOUN (the ancient RUSAZUS) also conceals vestiges of the Roman era such as the remains of a wall, a water pipe and important thermal baths.
In addition to this archaeological heritage, the wilaya is renowned for the diversity, originality and quality of its traditional craftsmanship which covers several trades:
Jewelery in the region of BENI-YENNI.

Pottery in the regions of AIT-KHEIR, MAATKAS, BOUNOUH and OUADHIAS.

The tapestry at AIT-HICHEM (AIN-EL-HAMMAM).

Cabinetmaking, weaving, basketry, embroidery in several localities of the wilaya.