Meraldene River

{{About|Meraldene||Meraldene (disambiguation)}} {{Expand Arabic|topic=geo|date=December 2020}} {{essay-like|date=January 2021}} {{Infobox river | name = Meraldene River | native_name ={{native name|ar|وادي مغلدن}} | name_other = وادي المرابطين | name_etymology = Marabouts stream | nickname = إيغزر ن مرابظن  | image = | image_size = | image_caption = Meraldene Dam | image_alt =  | map = | map_size = | map_caption = | map_alt = | pushpin_map = | pushpin_map_size = | pushpin_map_caption= | pushpin_map_alt =  | subdivision_type1 = Commune | subdivision_name1 = Thénia | subdivision_type2 = District | subdivision_name2 = Thénia | subdivision_type3 = Province | subdivision_name3 = Boumerdès | subdivision_type4 = Region | subdivision_name4 = Kabylie | subdivision_type5 = Country | subdivision_name5 = Algeria  | length = {{Convert|10500|m|ft|abbr=on}} | width_min = {{Convert|5|m|ft|abbr=on}} | width_avg = {{Convert|7|m|ft|abbr=on}} | width_max = {{Convert|9|m|ft|abbr=on}} | depth_min = {{Convert|3|m|ft|abbr=on}} | depth_avg = {{Convert|8|m|ft|abbr=on}} | depth_max = {{Convert|13|m|ft|abbr=on}} | discharge1_location= Thénia | discharge1_min = {{Convert|20|m3/s|ft3/s|abbr=on}} | discharge1_avg = {{Convert|25|m3/s|ft3/s|abbr=on}} | discharge1_max = {{Convert|30|m3/s|ft3/s|abbr=on}}  | source1 = | source1_location = Beni Amrane | source1_coordinates= {{coord|36.679524|3.5372898|type:river_region:DZ|format=dms|display=inline}} | source1_elevation = 590 m | mouth = Boumerdès River | mouth_location = Boumerdès | mouth_coordinates = {{coord|36.7320895|3.5328709|type:river_region:DZ|format=dms|display=inline}} | mouth_elevation = 140 m | progression = Beni Amrane, Thénia, Boumerdès | river_system = River regime, Drainage system | basin_size = {{Convert|140000|m2|ft2|abbr=on}} | basin_landmarks = | basin_population = | tributaries_left = Arbia River | tributaries_right = Boufroun River | waterbodies = Meraldene Dam | waterfalls = | bridges = {{illm|National Road No. 5 (Algeria)|ar|الطريق الوطني رقم 5 (الجزائر)|lt=National Road No. 5}} | ports = | custom_label = | custom_data = | extra = }} The '''Oued Meraldene''' or '''Oued Merabtene''', also called '''Oued Bourdine''', is a river of Algeria located in Kabylia within the framework of the Province of Boumerdès.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k7577865t/f1.item.r=meralden.zoom|title = L'Echo d'Alger : Journal républicain du matin|date = 12 March 1913}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k6586037h/f229.item.r=oued+bourdine.zoom|title=Les Travaux ["puis" nord-africains] : Organe des travaux publics et particuliers en Algérie, en Tunisie et au Maroc... ["puis" Bâtiment, travaux publics, architecture...] / Publié par M. Émile Carret|date=January 1911}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k7576132q/f2.item.r=oued+bourdine.zoom|title = L'Echo d'Alger : Journal républicain du matin|date = 28 June 1915}}</ref>

==Presentation== The ''Meraldène'' stream is one of the main tributaries of the Boumerdès River which is a river that finds its mouth in the Mediterranean Sea.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k54679568/f149.item.r=Bou-Merdes+Bou-Douaou+Corso+Hassenat+Acherkel+Djerouden.zoom|title=Dictionnaire de la législation algérienne, premier supplément : Manuel des lois, ordonnances, décrets, décisions et arrêtés publiés au "Bulletin officiel des actes du gouvernement" pendant les années 1853, 1854, 1855... / Par M. P. De Ménerville|year=1856}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k55985746/f2.item.r=oued+bourdine+meralden.zoom|title = Journal général de l'Algérie et de la Tunisie : Affiches algériennes et tunisiennes : Organe de la propriété foncière et des intérêts économiques|date = 7 May 1911}}</ref>

This river takes its source in the heights of the current commune of Beni Amrane in the Khachna Massif which shelters the peak of {{illm|Bouzegza Mount|ar|بوزقزة}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k7583309h/f5.item.r=Meralden+BouHerdes.zoom|title=L'Echo d'Alger : Journal républicain du matin|date=21 July 1935}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k7582351s/f6.item.r=barrage+bourdine.zoom|title = L'Echo d'Alger : Journal républicain du matin|date = 23 November 1930}}</ref>

At an altitude of 590 meters above sea level near the villages of Beni Khelifa and Azela, ''Oued Meraldene'' is born to take its course on a river bed that juts out into the current town of Thénia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k7583815z/f8.item.r=Bouisri+barrage+bourdine+passerelle.zoom|title = L'Echo d'Alger : Journal républicain du matin|date = 30 January 1935}}</ref>

This area is rich in water resources thus feeds the Oued which then traces its route between the villages of Tabrahimt, Meraldene, Gueddara, Soumâa, Tizouighine before reaching the plateau of the village Louz.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k7574458c/f4.item.r=construction+bourdine.zoom|title=L'Echo d'Alger : Journal républicain du matin|date=4 September 1912}}</ref>

==Mouth== The ''Meraldene River'' rises in flood especially during the winter and the ''Oued'' becomes impassable and dangerous, and causes floods that spread to the village of ''Louz'' beyond which it finds its mouth with the Boumerdès River which springs also from the heights of ''Beni Amrane'' and then flows into the ''Mediterranean''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k7577865t/f1.item.r=Bourdine.zoom|title = L'Echo d'Alger : Journal républicain du matin|date = 12 March 1913}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k96757465/f304.item.r=Bou-Merdes.zoom|title=Archives de l'Institut Pasteur d'Algérie|date=March 1941}}</ref>

It is because of the ''floods'' and the rising waters of the two ''Oueds'' at the level of this ''mouth'' that a bridge was built on the ''{{illm|National Road No. 5 (Algeria)|ar|الطريق الوطني رقم 5 (الجزائر)|lt=National Road No. 5}}'' to pass the water and not to block road traffic.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k7583373p/f6.item.r=oued+meralden.zoom|title = L'Echo d'Alger : Journal républicain du matin|date = 24 September 1935}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k5442519h/f535.item.r=Bou-Merdes.zoom|title=Bulletin de la Société zoologique de France|date=6 May 1931}}</ref>

==Dam== {{Main|Meraldene Dam}} Given the profusion of water flowing through Oued Meraldene, a hydraulic dam was built to store part of its flowing water.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://alger-roi.fr/Alger/barrages/pages/21_menerville_barrage_oued_bourdine_1913_echo_francis.htm |title=Barrage de l'oued Bourdine à Ménerville |website=alger-roi.fr |date=1913-12-03 |accessdate=2022-09-16}}</ref>

The ''Meraldene Dam'' was built between 1911 and 1913 to provide answers to economic questions related to the continuous supply of drinking water, often so difficult to achieve.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k5027784t/f4.item.r=Barrage+Bourdine.zoom|title = Les Nouvelles : Journal quotidien du soir|date = 10 May 1911}}</ref>

This is how on 26 February 1913, this important dam was completed and inaugurated and on its final acceptance.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k57880167/f2.item.r=Bou-Merdes.zoom|title = Journal général de l'Algérie et de la Tunisie : Affiches algériennes et tunisiennes : Organe de la propriété foncière et des intérêts économiques|date = 2 November 1922}}</ref>

It is a hydraulic structure 14 meters high by 70 meters wide, blocking the Meraldene Valley, and which can hold a water volume of 30,000 cubic meters.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k63976064/f4.item.r=Bou-Merdes.zoom|title = Les Travaux ["puis" nord-africains] : Organe des travaux publics et particuliers en Algérie, en Tunisie et au Maroc... ["puis" Bâtiment, travaux publics, architecture...] / Publié par M. Émile Carret|date = 4 November 1922}}</ref>

This stored water was intended for supplying machine depots and railway workshops in the city of Thénia concurrently with the direct intake 300 meters upstream.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k5681054h/f4.item.r=Arbia+Isser+Bou-Merdes.zoom|title = Journal général de l'Algérie et de la Tunisie : Affiches algériennes et tunisiennes : Organe de la propriété foncière et des intérêts économiques|date = 2 July 1925}}</ref>

The design of this important hydraulic structure made it possible to collect sufficient water for the industrial needs of the ''Thénia'' region.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k63975484/f4.item.r=Arbia+Isser+Bou-Merdes.zoom|title = Les Travaux ["puis" nord-africains] : Organe des travaux publics et particuliers en Algérie, en Tunisie et au Maroc... ["puis" Bâtiment, travaux publics, architecture...] / Publié par M. Émile Carret|date = 24 September 1921}}</ref>

Its final acceptance was made with the dam full, with all the conditions that were met such as the connection of electricity to operate its pumps.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k6586037h/f230.item.r=Barrage+Bourdine.zoom|title=Les Travaux ["puis" nord-africains] : Organe des travaux publics et particuliers en Algérie, en Tunisie et au Maroc... ["puis" Bâtiment, travaux publics, architecture...] / Publié par M. Émile Carret|date=January 1911}}</ref>

== Gallery == <gallery class="center" widths="200px" heights="160px">

File:Dam of Meraldene, Barrage de Merabtene, Thenia, Kabylie.jpg|''Meraldene Dam'' File:Col de Ténia (cropped).jpg|Meraldene Ravine </gallery>

==See also== * List of rivers of Algeria * Meraldene Dam * Boumerdès Valley * Khachna Massif * Bouzegza Mountain * {{illm|List of dams of Algeria|ar|قائمة سدود الجزائر}} * {{illm|National Road No. 5 (Algeria)|ar|الطريق الوطني رقم 5 (الجزائر)}}

==External links== *{{YouTube|N3pgTujM0NQ|Meraldene Dam}}

==References== {{reflist}}

{{coord|36.7126595|3.5469278|type:river_region:DZ|format=dms|display=title}}

Category:Rivers of Algeria Category:Boumerdès Province