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Ismaïlia (Arabic: الإسماعيلية) is the capital of Egypt's Al Isma'iliyah Governorate. It has a population (including surrounding rural areas) of approximately 750,000. It is located on the west bank of the Suez Canal, approximately half way between Port Said to the north and Suez to the south. The Canal widens at that point to include Timsah, one of the Bitter Lakes linked by the Canal. It was founded in 1863, during the construction of the Suez Canal, by Ismail the Magnificent, after whom the city is named. The head office of the Suez Canal Authority is located in Ismaïlia at the shore of Lake Timsah. It still has a large number of buildings dating from British and French involvement with the Canal. Most of these buildings are still used by Canal employees and officials.
[edit] EducationIsmailia is the home of Suez Canal University, established in 1976 to serve the region of Suez Canal and Sinai. Suez Canal University now is one of the fast growing educational institutes in Egypt with many students studying abroad. [edit] TourismIsmaïlia does get tourists from within Egypt, but is not a major tourism destination for international tourists. The city is approximately a ninety minute automobile drive from Cairo. From Ismaïlia it is approximately a four hour drive to Sharm el Sheikh in South Sinai. Driving to the Taba Border Crossing at Taba and the Rafah Border Crossing at Rafah are both approximately four hour drives. [edit] SportsIsmaïlia's Sporting Club's football team Ismaily SC enjoys broad support from within the city and governorate, with fan bases extending to other Egyptian cities. The club's performance is considered a major political issue, and can tend to dictate the city's mood. The team enjoys brief stints of competition for local and international competition, but its financial situation prevents these stints from extending beyond a few years. The team has won the Egyptian League three times (1967, 1991, 2002), the Egyptian Cup twice (1997, 2000), and the African Champions League once (1969). [edit] Climate
[edit] Notable natives
[edit] MilitaryIsmailia is the base for the Egyptian Second Field Army. [edit] References
[edit] External links
Coordinates: 30°35′N 32°16′E / 30.583°N 32.267°E
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