Beni Mellal

Beni Mellal (Arabic: بني ملال, Berber languages: ⴰⵢⵜ ⵎⵍⵍⴰⵍ, romanized: Ayt Mellal) is a city in north-central Morocco. It is the capital of the Béni Mellal-Khénifra Region and has a population of 192,676 (2014 census).[1] It sits at the foot of Jbel Tassemit (2247 m), next to the plains of Beni Amir.

Beni Mellal
Beni Mellal is located in Morocco
Beni Mellal
Beni Mellal
Location in Morocco
Beni Mellal is located in Africa
Beni Mellal
Beni Mellal
Beni Mellal (Africa)
Coordinates: 32°20′22″N 6°21′39″W
Country Morocco
RegionBéni Mellal-Khénifra
ProvinceBeni Mellal
Elevation
620 m (2,030 ft)
Population
 (2020)
 • City209.676
 • Rank17th in Morocco
 • Metro
447,330
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
Postal code
23000

The walls of the city go back to Moulay Ismail, in 1688, as well as the Kasbah 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 and figs find their way to the market via Beni Mellal.

The city has good connections via the road to Casablanca to the East and lies on the ancient route - now a national highway - 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 the surrounding area. The spring of Ain Asserdoun is an amazigh name meaning the source of the mule or the eye of the mule. In the area of Soumaa a zaouia exists dating from the 16th century, which is still used for religious purposes. It was the meeting of these two cities, Tadla and Soumaa, which formed the amazigh name Beni Mellal(Means white in tamazight,ammeloul) which translated means children of the white.

Climate

Beni Mellal has a hot semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification BSh) with very hot summers and cool winters. As the city lies quite far inland and is shielded by the Middle Atlas mountains, the climate is highly continental. Because of these factors the overall climate can be considered in a fluctuative state generally moderating between two larger extremes in temperature and climate. Rainfall can reach up to 500 mm (20 in) per year, snow can also fall in winter.

Climate data for Beni Mellal
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 17.8
(64.0)		 19.6
(67.3)		 23.3
(73.9)		 24.6
(76.3)		 28.8
(83.8)		 34.2
(93.6)		 39.5
(103.1)		 40.8
(105.4)		 32.2
(90.0)		 28.1
(82.6)		 22.0
(71.6)		 18.9
(66.0)		 27.5
(81.5)
Average low °C (°F) 3.3
(37.9)		 5.1
(41.2)		 7.8
(46.0)		 10.3
(50.5)		 13.5
(56.3)		 17.8
(64.0)		 24.2
(75.6)		 25.1
(77.2)		 18.0
(64.4)		 14.0
(57.2)		 8.6
(47.5)		 5.0
(41.0)		 12.7
(54.9)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 33.9
(1.33)		 34.2
(1.35)		 43.0
(1.69)		 36.7
(1.44)		 20.0
(0.79)		 3.5
(0.14)		 1.6
(0.06)		 1.2
(0.05)		 7.2
(0.28)		 35.6
(1.40)		 53.4
(2.10)		 40.0
(1.57)		 310.3
(12.2)
Source: BBC Weather (records)[2]

Transport

Beni Mellal is served by Beni Mellal Airport.

Education

In Beni Mellal is located Sultan Moulay Slimane University.

Notable people
  • El Kasbah Ain Asserdoun Beni Mellal
    El Kasbah Ain Asserdoun Beni Mellal
  • Sultan Moulay Slimane University
    Sultan Moulay Slimane University

References
  1. "POPULATION LÉGALE DES RÉGIONS, PROVINCES, PRÉFECTURES, MUNICIPALITÉS, ARRONDISSEMENTS ET COMMUNES DU ROYAUME D'APRÈS LES RÉSULTATS DU RGPH 2014" (in Arabic and French). High Commission for Planning, Morocco. 8 April 2015. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  2. "Average Conditions tetoaun, Morocco". BBC Weather. Retrieved August 17, 2009.
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