The Dahra Range () is a mountain range located in northern

Algeria Algeria, officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It is bordered to Algeria–Tunisia border, the northeast by Tunisia; to Algeria–Libya border, the east by Libya; to Alger ...

. 'Dahra' is an

Arabic Arabic (, , or , ) is a Central Semitic languages, Central Semitic language of the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family spoken primarily in the Arab world. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) assigns lang ...

word meaning 'back'; in

toponymy Toponymy, toponymics, or toponomastics is the study of '' toponyms'' ( proper names of places, also known as place names and geographic names), including their origins, meanings, usage, and types. ''Toponym'' is the general term for a proper na ...

this term indicates a long plateau of lesser altitude.

Geography

The Dahra is a low mountain chain part of the greater Tell Atlas which stretches from

Algiers Algiers is the capital city of Algeria as well as the capital of the Algiers Province; it extends over many Communes of Algeria, communes without having its own separate governing body. With 2,988,145 residents in 2008Census 14 April 2008: Offi ...

in the east along the

Mediterranean The Mediterranean Sea ( ) is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the east by the Levant in West Asia, on the north by Anatolia in West Asia and Southern ...

coast until reaching the mouth of the Chelif near

Mostaganem Mostaganem () is a port city in and capital of Mostaganem (province), Mostaganem province, in the northwest of Algeria. The city, founded in the 11th century lies on the Gulf of Arzew, Mediterranean Sea and is 72 km ENE of Oran. It is consi ...

at its western end. Its tallest summit is 1,550 m high Mount Zaccar, north of Miliana, a town built on its slopes. The inhabitants of the area of the range are

Berber people Berbers, or the Berber peoples, also known as Amazigh or Imazighen, are a diverse grouping of distinct ethnic groups indigenous to North Africa who predate the arrival of Arabs in the Maghreb. Their main connections are identified by their u ...

. The range is partly covered in Mediterranean forest, with scattered patches of cultivation. Daniel Babo, ''Algérie,'' Éditions le Sureau, coll. « Des hommes et des lieux » (), p. 45 The inhabitants of the Dahra Range are from

Berber Berber or Berbers may refer to: Ethnic group * Berbers, an ethnic group native to Northern Africa * Berber languages, a family of Afro-Asiatic languages Places * Berber, Sudan, a town on the Nile People with the surname * Ady Berber (1913–196 ...

origin, descending from the Banou Ifren and the Maghraouas

References

External links

Massif des Dahra - Couleurs d'Algérie

Pleistocene Mazouna Stage in Western Algeria Containing Artifacts
Mountain ranges of Algeria {{Algeria-geo-stub