Khouribga

Khouribga

Khouribga (Arabic: خريبكة, romanized: khurībka, [xuriːbɡa]) is the capital of Khouribga Province in the Béni Mellal-Khénifra region, Morocco. With a population of 196,196 (2014 census),[1] Khouribga owes its growth to the phosphate deposits nearby. Located at 107 km from Casablanca, 154 km from the capital, Rabat, more than 200 km from the city of Marrakesh, and about 99 km from the city of Beni Mellal and 60 km from the city of Settat and 34 km from the city of Oued Zem. Khouribga is located 820 meters above sea level on the Ouardigha plateau. The city was founded in 1923 by the authorities of the French protectorate when they discovered phosphate in the region,[2] for which Morocco is considered to be the biggest exporter in the world.[3] There are several mines in the province, most notably the mine of Sidi Shennan near the town of Oued Zem, which lies 30 km from the village of Boulanouare (5 km) and the town of Boujniba (10 km) and the village of Hattane.