Béni Abbès

Béni Abbès
بني عباس
Commune and town
View of Béni Abbès
Location of Béni Abbès commune within Béchar Province
Béni Abbès
Location of Béni Abbès within Algeria
Coordinates: 30°4′48″N 2°6′0″W / 30.08000°N 2.10000°W / 30.08000; -2.10000
Country Algeria
ProvinceBéni Abbès
DistrictBéni Abbès
Government
  TypeMunicipality
  MayorKebir Nadjib (2012-2017)
Area
  Total
10,040 km2 (3,880 sq mi)
Elevation
483 m (1,585 ft)
Population
 (2009)
  Total
11,416
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
Postal code
08300
ISO 3166 codeCP

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) from the provincial capital Béchar, and 1,200 km (746 mi) from Algiers.

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.