Biskra بسکرة
—  Commune and city  —
City Hall of Biskra, with the modern coat of arms visible at center-right
Biskra بسکرة Location in Algeria
Coordinates: 34°51′N 5°44′E / 34.85°N 5.733°E / 34.85; 5.733
Country	Algeria
Province	Biskra Province
District	Biskra District
Population (2007)
- Total	207,987
Time zone	+1 (UTC+1)

Coordinates: 34°51′N 5°44′E / 34.85°N 5.733°E / 34.85; 5.733 Biskra (Arabic: بسكرة ‎; Berber: Tibeskert) is the capital city of Biskra province, Algeria. In 2007, its population was recorded as 207,987.

Dancer in Biskra, published in March 1917 National Geographic.

During Roman times the town was called Vescera, though this may have been simply a Latin transliteration of the native name. Around 200 AD under Septimius Severus' reign, it was seized by the Romans and became part of the province of Numidia. As a major settlement in the border region, it was significant even then. Its name was apparently bowdlerized by the Romans to Ad Piscīnam ("at the piscīna"), implying the presence of important waterworks.

As of 1935, Biskra was an inland town, the principal settlement of a Saharan oasis watered by the intermittent Oued Biskra. It is in the southern part of the Algerian rail system, and a favorite winter resort. Large quantities of fruit, especially dates and olives, were grown in the vicinity. The town was a military post, and was the scene of severe fighting in the rebellions of 1849 and 1871.

With January temperatures averaging 11 °C, Biskra is a common vacation spot in winter. Located in northeastern Algeria on the northern edge of the Sahara Desert, the area surrounding it is very arid and most of the population lives in oasis.

The Hungarian composer Béla Bartók collected traditional music in Biskra in 1913.

Biskra is the setting of key sections of André Gide's 1902 novel The Immoralist.

Climate

• This article incorporates text from The Modern World Encyclopædia: Illustrated (1935); out of UK copyright as of 2005.

Provincial seats of Algeria Adrar • Aïn Defla • Aïn Témouchent • Algiers • Annaba • Batna • Béchar • Béjaïa • Biskra • Blida • Bordj Bou Arréridj • Bouïra • Boumerdès • Chlef • Constantine • Djelfa • El Bayadh • El Oued • El Taref • Ghardaïa • Guelma • Illizi • Jijel • Khenchela • Laghouat • Mascara • Médéa • Mila • Mostaganem • M'Sila • Naâma • Oran • Ouargla • Oum el-Bouaghi • Relizane • Saida • Sétif • Sidi Bel Abbès • Skikda • Souk Ahras • Tamanrasset • Tébessa • Tiaret • Tindouf • Tipaza • Tissemsilt • Tizi Ouzou • Tlemcen

Biskra Province Capital: Biskra Districts  · Biskra · Djemourah · Foughala · El Kantara · El Outaya · M'Chouneche · Ouled Djellal · Ourlal · Sidi Khaled · Sidi Okba · Tolga · Zeribet El Oued Communes  · Aïn Naga · Aïn Zaatout · Biskra · Bordj Ben Azzouz · Bouchagroune · Branis · Chetma · Djemorah · Doucen · El Feidh · El Ghrous · El Hadjeb · El Haouch · El Kantara · El Outaya · Foughala · Khenguet Sidi Nadjil · Lichana · Lioua · M'Chouneche · Mekhadma · Meziraa · M'Lili · Ouled Djellal · Ouled Harkat · Ouled Rahma · Ouled Sassi · Oumache · Ourlala · Sidi Khaled · Sidi Okba · Tolga · Zeribet El Oued