Oran

The Arabic name of city is وهران (Wahrān) and the Berber name is ⵡⴰⵀⵔⴰⵏ (Wehṛan). The word Wahran is derived from the Berber expression wa - iharan which translates to place of lions. A locally popular legend tells that in the period around AD 900, there were sightings of Barbary lions in the area. The last two lions were killed on a mountain near Oran, and it became known as la montagne des lions ("The Mountain of Lions"). The hypothesis deriving the city's name from the Libyco-Berber root for "lion" is the most plausible one, linking the name to other place names such as Tiaret, Tahert, and Taher. Two giant lion statues stand in front of Oran's city hall, symbolizing the city.

The settlement of the Phoenicians in the region, whose vast necropolis at Les Andalouses, Bethioua, Mers El Kébir, Madegh can be studied, dates back to the Punic period, between the 6th and 1st centuries BC. During the Roman Empire, a small settlement called Unica Colonia existed in the area of the current Oran, but this settlement disappeared as the Maghreb was conquered by a succession of regional powers, beginning with the Vandals in 435, followed by the Berbers of the Mauro-Roman Kingdom, and finally the Arabs around the start of the 8th century. Present-day Oran was founded in 903 by the Azdadja and Ajissa Berbers of the Maghrawa confederation who lived in the area. The city enjoyed a period of prosperity under the Almohad Caliph Abd al-Mu'min for a lengthy period of time when he built thirty vessels to connect it with Andalusia. …

Oran features a hot semi-arid climate (Köppen: BSh). Oran's climate does show influences of a Mediterranean climate; however, the combination of the city's relatively high average annual temperature and relatively low annual precipitation precludes it from falling under that climate category. Oran averages 326 mm (13 in) of precipitation annually, the bulk of which falls between November and May. Summers are the warmest times of the year, with average high temperatures in the warmest month (August) approaching 32 degrees Celsius. Winters are the coolest times of the year in Oran, with high temperatures in the coolest month (January) at around 17 degrees Celsius.

The folk music Raï ("opinion" in Arabic), had its beginnings in Oran. This genre of music was formulated by shepherds in the 1930s through Arab and European influences. This music was surrounded by controversy due to women's key role in public performances of the music, as well as the hedonistic lyrics about love and alcohol. This led to strict governmental control in the area which led to arrests, injuries, and assassinations. Many notable Raï musicians (including Cheb Hasni, Cheb Khaled, and Rachid Taha) hail from Oran. The violinist Akim el Sikameya was also born in Oran. One of Oran's most famous emigrants is Yves Saint Laurent. Créponné, a traditional Algerian lemon sorbet, originated in Oran. The French Algerian pastry oranais also originated here.

Oran has become a major trading centre for the wider area, serving Arzew, the area's oil/gas port as well as Sonatrach, the country's biggest oil and gas company. Sonelgaz has built a new congress centre in Oran and in 2010 the 16th International Conference & Exhibition on Liquefied Natural Gas was held in the city of Oran, which attracted around 3,000 visitors and major companies from around the world. To accommodate all visitors, new hotels are currently being constructed and floating hotels will be used in the future. With a growth in urbanization, water quality and management is being harmed in Oran; this change in water quality is affecting marine life and the state of beaches in this tourism driven city. The city and region participates in the R20 Regions of Climate Action, with goals focused on reduced waste valorization and energy efficiency. …

The city's public transportation is centered on the Oran tramway centering in the city center and running south to Es-Senia. The Oran Metro is a planned metro system expected to be complete in 2026, ran by the Algiers Metro Company. There is an extensive network of "clandestine" taxis in the city. A project started in 2008/9 for the Oran Tram, a tramway system consisting of 32 stations over a distance of 18.7 km (11.6 mi) going to Es-Sénia, in the South and Sidi Maarouf in the east side, while passing by the centre town The tramway serves Haï Sabbah, University of Sciences and Technology (USTO), the Crossroads of the Three Private clinics, the Law courts, Dar El Baïda, the Plate-Saint Michel, the Place of 1 November, Saint-Anthony, Boulanger, Saint-Hubert, the 3rd Ring road and finally The University of Es-Sénia. The system was opened on 1 May 2013. …