Béni Abbès
Béni Abbès (Arabic: بني عباس), also known as the Pearl of the Saoura, and also as the White Oasis, is a town and commune located in western Algeria in Béchar Province, 241 km (150 mi) far from the provincial capital Béchar, and 1,200 km (746 mi) from Algiers.
Béni Abbès
بني عباس | |
|---|---|
Commune and town | |
View of Béni Abbès | |
Location of Béni Abbès commune within Bechar Province | |
Béni Abbès Location of Béni Abbès within Algeria | |
| Coordinates: 30°4′48″N 2°6′0″W | |
| Country | Algeria |
| Province | Bechar |
| District | Béni Abbès |
| Government | |
| • Type | Municipality |
| • Mayor | Kebir Nadjib (2012-2017) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 10,040 km2 (3,880 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 483 m (1,585 ft) |
| Population (2009) | |
| • Total | 11,416 |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| Postal code | 08300 |
| ISO 3166 code | CP |
It has been the capital of the Béni Abbès District since 1957. The commune's area is approximately 10,040 km2 (3,880 sq mi), with a population of 10,885 inhabitants as of the 2008 census, up from 8,850 in 1998, and a population growth rate of 2.1%.
Béni Abbès lies in the Saoura valley, on the left bank of the intermittent wadi called Oued Saoura. There are seven ksars (castles) in Béni Abbès, including a particularly large one found in a palm grove in the river valley.
The people of Béni Abbès are often referred to as Abbabsa.