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Ghardaïa is an oasis town in Algeria. The city is located in the M'zab in the northern central Sahara at an altitude of 526 m and forms the pentapolis of the M'zab together with the southeastern cities of Beni Isguen, Melika (both in this picture), Bou Noura (Has Bunur) and El Atteuf (Tadjnint). Together with the other oases of the M'Zab valley, Ghardaïa has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1982 because of its exemplary urban design. - The name Ghardaïa comes from a saint named Daïa who lived in a cave (ghar) in the area. Later, Kharijite Muslims fleeing persecution by Orthodox Muslims in the north built a city there. - Algeria - 1961