RELIZANE

also called Ighil Izane town, northwestern Algeria, near Wadi Mna which is a tributary of the Chelif River. Built near the ruined Roman settlement of Mina, modern Relizane is a typical French-style town of wide streets and parks. It is surrounded by orchards and gardens, and 30,000 acres (12,000 hectares) are irrigated with waters from the Wadi Mna via the Bakhadda Dam. Cereals, grapes, and cotton are grown in the surrounding area, and there is trade in livestock and wool. The famous Kalaa Oriental carpets are also marketed in the town. The town is the feeder point of the Hassi R'Mel natural-gas pipeline to the coastal cities and is a road and railway junction. Pop. (1987 prelim.) mun., 83,864.