Ain Beni Mathar
| Aïn Beni Mathar عين بني مطهر |
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| Basic data | |||||
| State : |
 Morocco
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| Region : | Oriental | ||||
| Province : | Jerada | ||||
| Coordinates | 34 ° 0 ′ N , 2 ° 1 ′ W | ||||
| Residents : | 16,289 (2014) | ||||
| Area : | 1.9 km² | ||||
| Population density : | 8,573 inhabitants per km² | ||||
| Height : | 920 m | ||||
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Aïn Beni Mathar ( Arabic عين بني مطهر) or Berguent is a desert community (commune rurale) with about 18,000 inhabitants in the province of Jerada in the Oriental region in eastern Morocco .
location
Aïn Beni Mathar is located on the Oued Charef, which only has water after heavy or long-lasting rains, in an otherwise semi-desert-like environment approx. 20 km west of the border with Algeria at an altitude of approx. 920 m . The city of Oujda is approx. 86 km (driving distance) north; to Bouarfa is about 180 km in a southerly direction. The climate is dry and almost desert-like; the average annual rainfall (approx. 180 mm) falls predominantly in the winter half-year.
population
| year | 1994 | 2004 | 2014 |
| Residents | 10,532 | 13,526 | 16,289 |
The continuing population growth is largely due to the immigration of Berber families . They speak the regional Berber dialect and Moroccan Arabic .
economy
Today the city is characterized by retail trade, handicrafts and service companies of all kinds. In 2011, the first Moroccan solar thermal power plant for electricity generation, costing around 550 million euros, went into operation in the vicinity of the city .
history
Aïn Beni Mathar (old name Berguent ) was founded in 1904 by Marshal Lyautey as a military base. In the years that followed, four already existing smaller Berber villages were merged into today's small town.
Cityscape
The cityscape varies between modern and rather simple quarters with flat roof houses made of hollow blocks or rammed earth . The place has several mosques , including a newly built one just a few years ago.
Web links
- Solar thermal power plant in Aïn Beni Mathar - photo + brief information
- Solar thermal power plant in Aïn Beni Mathar - Video (English)
- Oued Charef - video