{{Infobox settlement |official_name = Zelfana |other_name = |native_name = زلفانة |nickname = |settlement_type = Commune and town |motto = |image_skyline = |imagesize = |image_caption = |image_flag = |flag_size = |image_seal = |seal_size = |image_map = DZ-47 Zelfana.svg |mapsize = 200px |map_caption = Location of Zelfana commune within Ghardaïa Province |pushpin_map = Algeria |pushpin_label_position = bottom |pushpin_mapsize=300 |pushpin_map_caption = Location of Zelfana within Algeria |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = {{flag|Algeria}} |subdivision_type1 = Province |subdivision_name1 = Ghardaïa Province |subdivision_type2 = District |subdivision_name2 = Zelfana District '''(coextensive)''' |subdivision_type3 = |subdivision_name3 = |government_footnotes = |government_type = |leader_title = |leader_name = |established_title = |established_date = |area_magnitude = |unit_pref = Metric |area_footnotes = |area_total_km2 = |area_land_km2 = |population_as_of = 2008 |population_footnotes = <ref name="census2008"/> |population_note = |population_total = 10,161 |population_density_km2 = |timezone = CET |utc_offset = +1 |coordinates = {{coord|32|23|49|N|4|13|34|E|display=inline,title}} |elevation_footnotes = |elevation_m = 358 |elevation_ft = |postal_code_type = |postal_code = |area_code = |blank_name = |blank_info = |website = |footnotes = }}
'''Zelfana''' ({{langx|ar|زلفانة}}) is a town and commune, coextensive with Zelfana District, in Ghardaïa Province, Algeria. According to the 2008 census it has a population of 10,161,<ref name="census2008">{{cite web|title=Population: Ghardaïa Wilaya|url=http://www.ons.dz/collections/w47_p1.pdf|publisher=Office National des Statistiques Algérie|access-date=13 February 2013|language=fr}}</ref> up from 7,241 in 1998,<ref>{{cite web|title=Algeria Communes|url=http://www.statoids.com/ydz.html|publisher=Statoids|access-date=9 March 2013}}</ref> with an annual growth rate of 3.5%.<ref name="census2008"/>
==Climate==
Zelfana has a hot desert climate (Köppen climate classification ''BWh''), with very hot summers and mild winters, and very little precipitation throughout the year.
{{Weather box | location = Zelfana | metric first = yes | single line = yes | width = auto | Jan high C = 16.7 | Feb high C = 19.5 | Mar high C = 22.8 | Apr high C = 28.5 | May high C = 32.8 | Jun high C = 38.5 | Jul high C = 42.7 | Aug high C = 41.6 | Sep high C = 35.5 | Oct high C = 28.4 | Nov high C = 21.2 | Dec high C = 17.4 | Jan mean C = 10.4 | Feb mean C = 12.8 | Mar mean C = 15.8 | Apr mean C = 20.7 | May mean C = 24.8 | Jun mean C = 30.3 | Jul mean C = 33.8 | Aug mean C = 33.0 | Sep mean C = 28.3 | Oct mean C = 21.5 | Nov mean C = 15.0 | Dec mean C = 11.2 | Jan low C = 4.2 | Feb low C = 6.2 | Mar low C = 8.9 | Apr low C = 12.9 | May low C = 16.9 | Jun low C = 22.1 | Jul low C = 25.0 | Aug low C = 24.5 | Sep low C = 21.2 | Oct low C = 14.7 | Nov low C = 8.9 | Dec low C = 5.1 | Jan precipitation mm = 7 | Feb precipitation mm = 4 | Mar precipitation mm = 9 | Apr precipitation mm = 5 | May precipitation mm = 3 | Jun precipitation mm = 2 | Jul precipitation mm = 1 | Aug precipitation mm = 1 | Sep precipitation mm = 4 | Oct precipitation mm = 6 | Nov precipitation mm = 8 | Dec precipitation mm = 7 | source 1 = climate-data.org<ref>{{cite web|title=Climate data for: Zelfana|url=http://en.climate-data.org/location/501723/|publisher=climate-data.org|access-date=3 April 2013}}</ref> | date=April 2013 }}
==Transportation==
Zelfana is connected by a short {{convert|5|km|mi}} road to the N48 highway, which connects it to Ouargla to the east, and the Trans-Sahara Highway or N1 to the west, near Noumerat Airport. The N1 connects to Ghardaïa to the north and to El Goléa and In Salah to the south.
==Education==
5.5% of the population has a tertiary education, and another 15.4% has completed secondary education.<ref>{{cite web|title=Structure relative de la population résidente des ménages ordinaires et collectifs âgée de 6 ans et plus selon le niveau d'instruction et la commune de résidence.|url=http://www.ons.dz/collections/w47_p6.pdf|publisher=Office National des Statistiques Algérie|access-date=13 February 2013|language=fr}}</ref> The overall literacy rate is 78.8%, and is 85.6% among males and 71.9% among females.<ref>{{cite web|title=Taux d'analphabétisme et taux d'alphabétisation de la population âgée de 15 ans et plus, selon le sexe et la commune de résidence .|url=http://www.ons.dz/collections/w47_p10.pdf|publisher=Office National des Statistiques Algérie|access-date=13 February 2013|language=fr}}</ref>
==Localities== The commune of Zelfana is composed of five localities:<ref>{{cite web|title=Décret n° 84-365, fixant la composition, la consistance et les limites territoriale des communes. Wilaya d'El Oued|url=http://www.joradp.dz/JO8499/1984/067/FP1578.pdf|publisher=Journal officiel de la République Algérienne|access-date=2 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605183219/http://www.joradp.dz/JO8499/1984/067/FP1578.pdf |archive-date=5 June 2011|page=1578|language=fr|date=19 December 1984}}</ref> {{div col}} *Centre de Zelfana *Village socialiste agricole et Centre Pétrolier de Oued Noumer *El Hesseï *Gouifla *La Palmeraie {{div col end}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{-}} <div align="center">'''Neighbouring towns and cities'''</div> {{Geographic location |Centre = Zelfana |North = El Guerrara |Northeast = '''Touggourt'''<br>El Allia (Ouargla) |East = N'Goussa (Ouargla)<br>'''Ouargla''' |Southeast = '''Illizi''' |South = '''Tamanrasset''' |Southwest = Mansoura<br>El Goléa |West = '''Ghardaïa'''<br>Metlili |Northwest = '''Laghouat'''<br>Berriane }}
{{Ghardaïa Province}}
Category:Communes of Ghardaïa Province