Touggourt (; or 'the gate') is a city and commune, former sultanate and capital of Touggourt District, in Touggourt Province, Algeria, built next to an oasis in the Sahara. As of the 2008 census, the commune had a population of 39,409 people, up from 32,940 in 1998, and an annual growth rate of 1.8%. Touggourt's urban area includes the communes of Nezla, Tebesbest and Zaouia El Abidia, for a total population of 146,108. Touggourt is notable for its date trees. It was formerly surrounded by a moat, which the French filled up. Bradt Travel Guides describe it as "largely a modern town of block architecture" and "largely unattractive. The centre is quiet most of the day due to the heat but is more active at night when people take to the streets." History In 1414 the Sultanate of Tuggert was founded in southern Algeria. The known Sultans (and one female ruler) were: Ali II Mabruk (Mubarak) Ali III Mustafa Sulayman III 1729 Ahmad II Muhammad I al-‘Akhal Ahmad IV Farhat Ibrahim Abd al-Qadir I (1st time) + Ahmad V Khalid Abd al-Qadir I (2nd time) Umar bin Bu-Kumetin 1756 Muhammad II Umar II bin Muhammad Ahmad VI Abd al-Qadir II Farhat II 1792 Ibrahim II 1804 al-Khazan 1804 Muhammad III 1822 ‘Amar (‘Amir) II 1830 Ibrahim III 1831 ‘Ali IV bin al-Kabir 1833 ‘Aisha (Aichouch) (female) 1840 ‘Abd ar-Rahman 1852 ‘Abd al-Qadir III 1852 - 1854 Sulayman IV The Tuggurt Expedition (1552) is also a notable historical event. In 1854 the sultanate was abolished by French colonial authorities in Algeria. Touggourt, as it is now spelled, became one of the initial six (1902), then four (1905) autonomous administrative districts of the (Southern Territories), which in 1957 were first joined, then reorganized into two regular French départements. Tuggert became part of Oasis (prefecture seat Ouargla). Geography Touggourt lies on the western side of an extensive system of oases which supports palm plantations and other agriculture in an area from north to south. Other towns around the oases are Sidi Slimane and Megarine to north, and Tamacine and Balidat Ameur to the south. The system is also associated with more oases further north in El Oued Province including the towns of Djamaa and El M'Ghair. Beyond the oases, the land is arid and barren, with extensive sand dunes both to the west and east of the city. Climate Touggourt has a hot