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Beni Mellal

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Beni Mellal Bni Mellal /

Seal

Beni Mellal

Location in Morocco

Coordinates:

322022N 62139W32.33944N 6.36083WCoordinates:


6.36083W

322022N 62139W32.33944N

Country Region Population (2004) Total Time zone Summer (DST)

Morocco Tadla-Azilal

163,286 WET (UTC+0) WEST (UTC+1)

Beni-Mellal (Berber: Bni Mellal, Arabic: is a Moroccan city located at ( )


322022N 62139W32.33944N 6.36083W).

It is the capital city of the Tadla-Azilal Region, with a population of 163,286 (2004 census). It sits at the foot of Mount Tassemit (2247m), and next to the plains of Beni Amir. As the city lies quite far inland and is shielded by the Middle Atlas mountains the area has a real continental climate with very hot summers and quite cold winters. Because of these factors the overall climate can be considered in a fluctuative state generally moderating between two larger extremes in temperature and climate. This climate situation is similar to what exists in Marquette, Michigan and many other places that have climate fluctation as a result of the continental climate shift. The walls of the city go back to Mawlay Ismail, in 1688, as well as the Kasba[disambiguation needed] Bel-Kush but most of the city is quite modern and forms an important economic centre for the region particularly in the areas of petrochemical production as well as textile manufacturing which forms the backbone of the wider community. Local agricultural products as oranges, olives, figs etc. find their way to the market via Beni Mellal.[1] The city has good connections via the road to Casablanca to the East and lies on the ancient route - now a national road - from Fez to Marrakech. The national rail-operator ONCF is also extending the railtrack from Casablanca to (nearby) Oued Zem to the city.

History
The city was first called Ismali back in 1688, since Moulay Ismail, the second ruler of the Moroccan Alaouite Dynasty, built the fortresses of Tadla (remains still visible today). The ruler also constructed the well known Kasba Ras el Ain of this area, which overlooks the whole city along with the agricultural surroundings. It is made from stone and is close to the spring of Ain Asserdoun. The Kasbah was believed to have been built in order to protect this spring and to protect the surrounding area. The spring of Ain Asserdoun means the source of the mule or the eye of the mule. In the area of Soumaa a zaouia exists dated back to the 16th century, which is still used for religious purposes. It was the meeting of these two cities, Tadla and Soumaa, which formed the name Beni Mellal which translated means Day.

References
1. ^ Kjeilen, Tore. "Beni Mellal". Looklex Encyclopaedia. i-cias.com. http://i-cias.com/e.o/beni_mel.htm. Retrieved July 19, 2008.

Bni-Mellal Province
Capital: Beni Mellal

Beni Mellal El Ksiba Fquih Ben Salah Kasba Tadla Oulad Ayad Souk Sebt Oulad Nemma Zaouiat Cheikh

Municipalities

Aghbala Ait Oum El Bekht Al Khalfia Bni Chegdale Bni Oukil Boutferda Bradia Dar Ould Zidouh Dir El Ksiba Foum El Anceur Foum Oudi Guettaya Had Boumoussa Hel Merbaa Krifate Naour Oulad Bourahmoune Oulad Gnaou Oulad M'Barek Oulad Nacer Oulad Said L'Oued Oulad Yaich Oulad Youssef

Rural communes

Oulad Zmam Semguet Sidi Aissa Ben Ali Sidi Hammadi Sidi Jaber Taghzirt Tanougha Tizi N'Isly

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