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   Algeria / Cities and Towns /
Boumerdes
Other spelling: Boumerdas
Arabic: būmardās
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The harbour of Boumerdes.
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Town in northern Algeria with 30,000 inhabitants (2009 estimate), located on the Mediterranean Sea, capital of the Boumerdes province with 795,000 inhabitants (2008 estimate) and an area of 1,590 km².
Boumerdes is an important centre in Algerian petroleum, with research centres as well as University M'hamed Bougara, which was established 1998.
It is well-connected to other urban centres by highways, Algiers is only 60 km west.
Its name during the French era as Rocher Noir.
History
1984: Becomes capital of a new province with the same name as town.
2003 May 21: Earthquake destroys large parts of town, almost 1,400 are killed and thousands of inhabitants become homeless.
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