The Garden Foggara of Timimoun (Algeria): The Decline of Hydraulic Heritage

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Boualem, Remini^{c; *} | Jean, Albergel^a | Bachir, Achour^b

Affiliations: [a] IRD Montpellier, French | [b] Larhyss Laboratory, Hydraulic Department, Biskra University, Algeria | [c] Department of Water and Environmental Sciences, Blida University, Blida, 9000 Algeria

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding Author. reminib@yahoo.fr

Abstract: The foggara has been used for centuries for irrigating gardens of the Timimoun oasis. The most famous foggara in the region is one that collects water from the Continental Intercalary aquifer (classic foggara). We conducted five missions (2007, 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2014) in the Timimoun oasis to another foggara that is less studied. It is a small foggara that collects water seepage and leakage of water from the classic foggara. Not exceeding the 1500 metres in length, this foggara is located in the gardens. We call it the garden foggara. In 2010, of the seven foggaras (operating) recorded, the Zahzaa foggara is the only one remaining and is operating at a low discharge. But in 2012, this foggara has dried.

Keywords: Foggara, garden, oasis, timimoun, water

DOI: 10.3233/AJW-150006

Journal: Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution, vol. 12, no. 3, pp. 51-57, 2015