BENI MELLAL

town, central Morocco. It is situated among the foothills of the Moyen Atlas (Middle Atlas) mountains. The Kasba bel-Kush, at the town entrance, was built in the 17th century and restored in the 19th. Beni Mellal overlooks the Beni Amir plain and is the chief market for the products, including oranges, olives, figs, other fruit, and livestock, of the irrigated Tadla region. The Bin el-Ouidane dam and reservoir are located 36 miles (58 km) southwest of the town. Beni Mellal is connected by road with Fs, Marrakech, and Casablanca. Pop. (1982) 95,003.