Khenifra خنيفرة | |
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  Khenifra Location in Morocco Show map of Morocco Khenifra Khenifra (Africa) Show map of Africa | |
| Coordinates:32°56′22″N5°40′3″W / 32.93944°N 5.66750°W /32.93944; -5.66750 | |
| Country |  Morocco |
| Region | Béni Mellal-Khénifra |
| Province | Khenifra |
| Population | |
| • Urban | 228,567 |
| • Rural | 142,578 |
| • Metro | 371,145 |
| • Metro density | 143.1/sq mi (55.27/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| Website | http://www.benimellalkhenifra.ma/fr/province/kh%C3%A9nifra |
Khenifra (Arabic:خنيفرة) is a city in northern centralMorocco, surrounded by theAtlas Mountains and located on theOum Er-Rbia River. National Highway 8 also goes through the town. The population, as of a 2019 census, was 228,567.[2]
Khenifra has been theZayanes' central town for centuries. As such, it was an important military holding in theZaian War. French GeneralPaul Prosper Henrys had planned to lead the first attack on Khenifra on 10 June 1914. There would be three columns of troops, totaling up to 14,000 officers, to take Khenifra from the Zayanes control.[3] One column was underLieutenant-ColonelHenri Claudel, one under ColonelGaston Cros, and one under ColonelNoël Garnier-Duplessix.[4]Mouha ou Hammou Zayani led troops to attempt to stop the Khenifra campaign, but was eventually unsuccessful.[5] The French took control of the town, losing around 600 men in the process.[6] In addition to leading the Zayanes, Hammou was responsible for much of the early 20th century development of Khenifra, having overseen the development of accommodations and mosques in the town.[7]
Khenifra is inhabited byZayanes, a Berber tribe, and the language spoken is a variety ofCentral Atlas Tamazight.[8] The town population at the time of the 2019 census was 228,567.[2]
Khenifra is located on theOum Er-Rbia River[9] National Highway 8 goes through Khenifra, and can provide travel toMarrakech andFès.[10] Jebel Bououzzal, "Iron Mountain", provides a source of iron, but its usefulness is limited due to also having a high sulphur content.[11]Khenifra National Park is east of the town, which contains forests ofAtlas cedars (Cedrus atlantica) andLake Ouiouane.
The best known sport was soccer; the team was created in 1943 under the name: "Khenifra Union Club", ThenChabab Atlas Khénifra. In addition to a men's team, the club established a women's squad on 30 November 1998.[12]
Capital:Beni Mellal | ||
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Capital:Khenifra | ||
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