Béni-Mellal Province
Introduction Fortress Beni Mellal'''Béni-Mellal''' is a province in the Moroccan region of Béni Mellal-Khénifra. Its population in 2004 was 946,018.
Geography Béni Mellal Province is located in the Atlas Mountains with a plateau situated 400 to 600 meters above sea level, as well as mountains rising to 2,460 meters (Mount Ighnayen) and 2,240 meters (Mount Tassemit). The high mountains are covered with snow from November to April.Beni Mellal Province has a continental climate with rainfall varying between 350 and 650 mm depending on the year. November is the rainiest month, with almost 25% of the annual precipitation. Snow is not uncommon on the plateau in winter. Extreme temperatures on the plateau range from a -6 °C in January 2005 to a 47 °C in July 2007.The summer is normally very hot because of the burning easterly or southeasterly winds, known as ''chergui'', which blow off the Sahara and raise the temperature above 40 °C. The heat waves sometimes end in violent thunderstorms.
Settlements The major cities and towns are:  * Aghbala* Beni Mellal* El Ksiba* Kasba Tadla* Oulad M Barek* Oulad Yaich* Sidi Jaber* Zaouiat CheikhOther towns and settlements include:* Tartemat
Subdivisions The province is divided administratively into the following: Name  Geographic code  Type  Households  Population (2004)  Foreign population  Moroccan population  Notes Beni Mellal  091.01.01.Municipality  34959  163286  113  163173   El Ksiba  091.01.03.Municipality  4412  18481  3  18478   Kasba Tadla  091.01.07.Municipality  8858  40898  40  40858   Zaouiat Cheikh  091.01.13.Municipality  5378  22728  1  22727   Foum Oudi  091.03.01.Rural commune  1404  7802  0  7802   Oulad Gnaou  091.03.03.Rural commune  1961  11256  0  11256   Oulad M'Barek  091.03.05.Rural commune  3193  17578  2  17576  11906 residents live in the center, called Oulad M Barek; 5672 residents live in rural areas. Oulad Yaich  091.03.07.Rural commune  4993  27773  0  27773  7692 residents live in the center, called Oulad Yaich; 20081 residents live in rural areas. Sidi Jaber  091.03.09.Rural commune  3397  18678  0  18678  4693 residents live in the center, called Sidi Jaber; 13985 residents live in rural areas. Aghbala  091.07.01.Rural commune  2574  12400  0  12400  6300 residents live in the center, called Aghbala; 6100 residents live in rural areas. Ait Oum El Bekht  091.07.03.Rural commune  1807  9893  0  9893   Boutferda  091.07.05.Rural commune  1020  6333  0  6333   Dir El Ksiba  091.07.07.Rural commune  3626  19130  1  19129   Foum El Anceur  091.07.09.Rural commune  2590  13795  0  13795   Naour  091.07.11.Rural commune  1093  6433  0  6433   Taghzirt  091.07.13.Rural commune  3712  18942  1  18941   Tanougha  091.07.15.Rural commune  2093  10874  0  10874   Tizi N'Isly  091.07.17.Rural commune  1806  10060  0  10060   Guettaya  091.11.01.Rural commune  2603  14621  1  14620   Oulad Youssef  091.11.03.Rural commune  2138  12804  1  12803   Oulad Said L'Oued  091.11.05.Rural commune  2319  13618  0  13618   Semguet  091.11.07.Rural commune  2035  11122  0  11122
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