BENI SAF

port, town, northwestern Algeria. It lies midway between Cape Falcon and Cape l'Eau. With the discovery of iron deposits in the surrounding hills, an artificial harbour enclosing 45 acres (18 hectares) of water was built (1876-81) by the Companie de Mines de Soumah et Toufna (later absorbed by the Companie de Mokta el-Hadid). The settlement on the eastern side of Wadi Sidi Ahmed is almost wholly a mining company town. The nearest mine, Rhr el-Baroud, is 2 miles (3 km) south, and Beni Saf is connected to the other ore deposits by overhead cables and long tunnels. Zinc, marble, and onyx are also mined, and there are fishing and fish-based industries. Pop. (1987 prelim.) mun., 29,921.