Saguia el-Hamra facts for kids
Saguia el-Hamra (which means "Red Canal" in Arabic) was a region in Western Sahara. It used to be part of the Spanish Sahara, a territory controlled by Spain. Saguia el-Hamra was one of two main parts of the Spanish Sahara, the other being Río de Oro.
This area got its name from a river, also called Saguia el-Hamra. This river flows through the region's main city, El Aaiún (also known as Laâyoune). The river is often dry, like a "wadi," which is a riverbed that only has water after heavy rain. The Sahrawi people, specifically the Oulad Tidrarin tribe, live in this area.
Saguia el-Hamra is located in the northern part of Western Sahara. It stretches from the 26th parallel north up to 27°50'N latitude. The city of Cape Bojador helped mark the boundary between Saguia el-Hamra and the Río de Oro region. Besides El Aaiún, another important city in Saguia el-Hamra was Smara.
The area of Saguia el-Hamra is about 82,000 square kilometers (about 31,660 square miles). This means it makes up roughly one-third of the entire Western Sahara territory.
Contents
History of Saguia el-Hamra
Saguia el-Hamra was officially established as a part of the Spanish Sahara in 1969. Spain had controlled the region for many years before that. However, Spain gave up control of the Spanish Sahara in 1975. After this, the area became a part of the ongoing Western Sahara conflict.
The Saguia el-Hamra River
The Saguia el-Hamra river is an important natural feature of the region. It is an intermittent river, meaning it does not flow all the time. It usually only has water during and after heavy rains. The river starts south of El Farsia and flows west, eventually reaching the Atlantic Ocean near the city of Laayoune.
Cities in the Region
El Aaiún: The Capital
El Aaiún is the largest city and was the capital of Saguia el-Hamra when it was a Spanish territory. It is located near the Atlantic coast, where the Saguia el-Hamra river meets the ocean.
Smara: An Inland City
Smara is another important city in the Saguia el-Hamra region. It is located further inland, away from the coast.
Geography and Climate
The region of Saguia el-Hamra is mostly desert. It has a very dry climate with very little rainfall. The landscape includes sandy plains and rocky areas.
People of Saguia el-Hamra
The main people living in Saguia el-Hamra are the Sahrawi people. They are a nomadic or semi-nomadic group who have lived in the Western Sahara region for a very long time. The Oulad Tidrarin tribe is one of the Sahrawi tribes found in this area.
See also
In Spanish: Saguía el Hamra para niños
