# Chlef Province

Chlef (Arabic: ولاية الشلف, Berber: ⴰⴳⴻⵣⴷⵓ ⵏ ⵛⵍⴻⴼ) (formerly known as El Asnam) is a province (wilaya) in Algeria. Its capital and biggest city is Chlef. It is the 8th most populous province in the country, having 1.356.151 inhabitants (2021).
Chlef Province is an important agricultural region, as it is located on the plain of the Middle Chelif Basin and has access to an abundance of water resources. 65.43% of the province is dedicated to agriculture. Other notable industries in the province include breeding, glass production, and plastic processing. As well as these industries, Chlef Province is also home to two dams.
Being located in the Atlas Mountains, Chlef also has a sizeable seismic risk, being struck by a 6.7 magnitude earthquake in 1954 and a 7.1 magnitude earthquake in 1980.

## History

The province was originally named El Asnam until 1980 when it became known at Ech Chéliff, later known as Chlef.
In 1980, a 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck the province, killing up to 5,000 and displacing 300,000.
In 1984, Aïn Defla Province was carved out of its territory.

## Geography
### Location

The province of Chlef is located at the Western Tell 200 km west of Algiers.
vtePlaces adjacent to Chlef Province :
Mediterranean Sea
Mostaganem, Relizane
Chlef Province
Aïn Defla, Tipasa
Tissemsilt :

## Administrative divisions

The province is divided into 13 districts (daïras), which are further divided into 35 communes or municipalities.

### Districts

* Abou El Hassan (دائرة أبو الحسن)
* Aïn Merane (دائرة عين مران)
* Béni Haoua (دائرة بني حواء)
* Boukadir (دائرة بوقادير)
* Chlef (دائرة شلف)
* El Karimia (دائرة الكريمية)
* El Marsa (دائرة المرسى)
* Oued Fodda (دائرة وادي الفضة)
* Ouled Ben Abdelkader (دائرة اولاد بن عبد القادر)
* Ouled Farès (دائرة اولاد فارس)
* Taougrit (دائرة تاوقريت)
* Ténès (دائرة تنس)
* Zeboudja (دائرة زبوجة)

### Communes

| No. | Commune | Arabic | Population |
| 01 | Chlef | الشلف | 146,157 |
| 02 | Ténès | تنس | 34,332 |
| 03 | Benairia (Bénairia) | بنايرية | 13,509 |
| 04 | El Karimia | الكريمية | 25,060 |
| 05 | Tadjna (Tadjena) | تأجنة | 22,155 |
| 06 | Taougrit (Taougrite) | تاوقريت | 24,267 |
| 07 | Beni Haoua | بنى حواء | 17,602 |
| 08 | Sobha | صبحة | 28,646 |
| 09 | Harchoun (Harchoune) | حرشون | 14,869 |
| 10 | Ouled Fares | أولاد فارس | 30,068 |
| 11 | Sidi Akkacha | سيدى عكاشة | 23,374 |
| 12 | Boukadir | بوقادير | 41,655 |
| 13 | Beni Rached | بنى راشد | 21,069 |
| 14 | Talassa (Telassa) | تلعصة | 10,175 |
| 15 | Harenfa (Herenfa) | الھرنفة | 16,356 |
| 16 | Oued Gousine (Oued Goussine) | وادى قوسين | 5,439 |
| 17 | Dahra | الظھرة | 21,284 |
| 18 | Ouled Abbes | أولاد عباس | 7,330 |
| 19 | Sendjas | السنجاس | 26,228 |
| 20 | Zeboudja | الزبوجة | 23,079 |
| 21 | Oued Sly | وادى سلى | 41,245 |
| 22 | Abou El Hassen (Abou El Hassan) | أبو الحسن | 20,164 |
| 23 | El Marsa | المرسى | 9,726 |
| 24 | Chettia | الشطية | 59,960 |
| 25 | Sidi Abderrahmane | سيدي عبد الرحمان | 3,630 |
| 26 | Moussadek | مصدق | 5,496 |
| 27 | El Hadjadj | الحجاج | 9,245 |
| 28 | Labiod Medjadja | الابيض مجاجة | 13,920 |
| 29 | Oued Fodda | وادى الفضة | 36,187 |
| 30 | Ouled Ben Abdelkader | أولاد بن عبد القادر | 17,385 |
| 31 | Bouzghaia (Bouzeghaia) | بوزغاية | 20,268 |
| 32 | Ain Merane (Aïn Merane, Ain Merrane) | عين مران | 37,142 |
| 33 | Oum Drou | أم الذروع | 17,314 |
| 34 | Breira | بريرة | 11,808 |
| 35 | Beni Bouateb (Beni Bouattab) | بنى بوعتاب | 2,551 |