The province of Berkane derives its name from the city of Berkane, founded in the early 20th century on the ancient ruins of a historic village, named after Sidi Ahmed Aberkane, referring to the scholar and saint Sidi Mohammed Ben El Hassan Ben Makhlouf Arrachidi who died in 868 of the Hegira.
The population originating from the Beni Znassen encompasses a variety of ethnic groups: Beni Ourimech, Beni Atig, Beni Mengouch, Beni Khaled, and Arab Triffa.
The province of Berkane is located in the far northeast of the Kingdom and the Oriental region. It is bordered to the north by the Mediterranean Sea, to the east by the Moroccan-Algerian border and the prefecture of Oujda-Angad, to the west by the province of Nador, and to the south by the province of Taourirt.
Covering a total area of 1985 Km2, the province of Berkane, which consists of 16 municipalities, represents 2.2% of the total area of the region.
According to the results of the General Population and Housing Census of 2014, the province has a population of 289,137 residents, representing 12.5% of the total population of the region, with a population density of 145.7 hab/km2.
The urbanization rate in the province of Berkane stands at 63.2%, indicating significant demographic pressure on the urban areas of the province, leading to a continuous decline in the rural population.
The diversity of its natural environment, the richness of its cultural heritage, and its privileged geographical location grant the province particular advantages and potential in agricultural and tourism activities.
The agricultural sector is considered one of the pillars of the province's economy. Additionally, it's worth noting that Berkane is considered the province with the richest variety of tourist sites in the Oriental region. It boasts significant and diverse tourist potential: sea, five mountains, caves, greenery (orange trees and vegetables), thermal springs, and more.
Its mild and temperate climate allows for the development of pedestrian and aquatic sports such as hiking, windsurfing, jet skiing, boating, cruises, and more.
The province also has the largest hydraulic resource in the region, the Moulouya River. The two dams located on this river constitute enormous reserves for irrigation needs in agriculture, domestic consumption of drinking water, and various economic activities.