Bisha (, '), also known as Qal`at Bishah (, '), is a town in the south-western
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), is a country in West Asia. Located in the centre of the Middle East, it covers the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula and has a land area of about , making it the List of Asian countries ...
n province,
Asir
Asir, officially the Aseer Province, is a province of Saudi Arabia in southern Arabia. It has an area of , and an estimated population of 2,024,285 (in 2022). Asir is bounded by the Mecca Province to the north and west, al-Bahah Province to the ...
. Bisha was its own province before merging with its neighboring province,
Asir
Asir, officially the Aseer Province, is a province of Saudi Arabia in southern Arabia. It has an area of , and an estimated population of 2,024,285 (in 2022). Asir is bounded by the Mecca Province to the north and west, al-Bahah Province to the ...
. Bisha has a population of 202,096 according to the 2022 Census in the
governorate
A governorate or governate is an administrative division headed by a governor. As English-speaking nations tend to call regions administered by governors either states or provinces, the term ''governorate'' is typically used to calque divisions ...
,
with nearly 240 villages and 58 larger settlements that are spread out on both sides of the Bisha Valley (the longest valley in the Arabian Peninsula). The city is located to the south of the
Arabian Peninsula
The Arabian Peninsula (, , or , , ) or Arabia, is a peninsula in West Asia, situated north-east of Africa on the Arabian plate. At , comparable in size to India, the Arabian Peninsula is the largest peninsula in the world.
Geographically, the ...
, which is almost entirely under the administration of the
kingdom. It stands at an altitude of approximately 610 meters (2,000 ft.) above sea level.
Agriculture
The Bisha area is of immense agricultural importance due to high soil fertility, abundant water, and palm cultivation. There are around 3,000,000 palm trees, among other trees of multiple varieties, and their fruits are sold widely to cities in the vicinity.
Ibn Saud then set out to conquer the surrounding region with the goal of bringing it under the rule of a single Islamic state. Ibn Dawwas of Riyadh led the most determined resistance, allied with forces from Al Kharj, Al Ahsa, and the Banu Yam clan of Najran. However, Ibn Dawwas fled and Riyadh capitulated to the Saudis in 1774, ending long years of wars, and leading to the declaration of the first Saudi State, with Riyadh as its capital.
The government of Saudi Arabia's strategic plan involves using a newly constructed dam to supply water to population centers rather than to irrigate farms. The Ministry of Agriculture and Water was concerned about the Bisha area's dependence on groundwater and initially decided to construct a dam in the Bisha Valley (
King Fahad Dam
The King Fahad Dam, previously known as Bisha Dam, is a gravity dam on Wadi Bisha about south of Bisha in the 'Asir Region of southwestern Saudi Arabia. The dam has many purposes , such as serving flood control, supplying water to nearby localit ...
) to support agricultural activities in the region. However, due to the scarcity of clean drinking water, the dam output has been redirected for drinking purposes, resulting in a sharp decline of agricultural output.
Climate
Bisha has a
hot desert climate
The desert climate or arid climate (in the Köppen climate classification ''BWh'' and ''BWk'') is a dry climate sub-type in which there is a severe excess of evaporation over precipitation. The typically bald, rocky, or sandy surfaces in desert ...
(
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification divides Earth climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on patterns of seasonal precipitation and temperature. The five main groups are ''A'' (tropical), ''B'' (arid), ''C'' (te ...
''BWh'').
See also
Education:
It has University of Bisha which offers education in a range of professional and non professional courses at graduate levels. The city also has a number of colleges for male and female which are offering graduate courses.
*
List of cities and towns in Saudi Arabia
The following is a list of cities and towns in Saudi Arabia.
List of Metro Cities
There are 5 large cities or metropolitan area, metro cities in Saudi Arabia with the population over a million or more.
Alphabetical list of cities and towns
...
References
External links
The Biggest Dam in the Kingdom Splendid Arabia, An Online Guide to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
{{Authority control
Populated places in 'Asir Province
Cities in Saudi Arabia