El Djelfa

Djelfa is the capital city of Djelfa province, Algeria and the site of Ancient city and former bishopric Fallaba, which remains a Latin catholic titular see. It has a population of 339,248 . The city lies at the junction of the N1 and the N46.GeographyIt is a pleasant medium-size city, north-central Algeria, in the Ouled Nail Mountains at an elevation of 3,734 feet (1,138 m). It is situated between the towns of Bousaada and Laghouat. Djelfa town is at a point of transition between the dry, steppe-like High Plateaus of the north, with their chotts (intermittent salt lakes), and the Sahara (south). The town was founded in 1852 as a French military post on a geometric plan. It serves as an important livestock market centre for the semi-nomadic Ouled Nail confederation. Djelfa is on the 12,000 mile Africa Trail.The surrounding region for centuries has been the meeting place of the Ouled Naïl people, who live in black-and-red striped tents and claim descent from the Islamic prophet, Muhammad.HistoryThe area is notable for its abundance of Neolithic rock carvings dating from 7000 to 5000 BC. North of Djelfa town there is an imposing physical feature known as Rocher de Sel (English: Salt Rock) that resulted from the erosion of rock salts and marls by rain. To the west of the town Megalithic funerary structures are found.