Ismailia
The Ismailia Governorate consists of an area of
approximately 4482.8 km2 or 0.46% of Egypt's area, along the
west bank of the Suez Canal. It has 70 km along the east coast.
 The
Ismailia Governorate is the capital of the Canal region where
the Suez Canal Authority has its headquarters, and where the
Suez Canal University is established.
Ismailia is located on Lake Timsah along the coast of the Canal,
half-way between Port Said and Suez. The Governorate consists
of five cities; Ismailia, Fayed, Al-Tal Al-Kabeer, Qantara west
and east.
In the early days, Ismailia was called Timsah Village, but
it was subsequently named after Khedive Ismail of Egypt. According
to the census conducted in 1996, the estimated figure of the
population was 715,000 inhabitants (58% urban 42% rural), or
1.21% of Egypt's.
Ismailia City is approximately 120 km from Cairo by the direct
route "desert highway" or 135 km by the countryside
road. All parts of the Governorate are joined with an integrated
network of roads. This enables traffic to join the city of Ismailia
with its suburbs.
The Ismailia Governorate has several ancient and antiquity
areas:
Tal Al-Maskhota: It is in Abu Seir village, and was called so
when workers found statues there in 1886. But in fact this place
was "Baraton Ai" town. There is god Aton temple made
from basalt, a Ptolemies alabaster coffin from the Ptolemi age,
which is moved now to Ismailia Museum. It is one of the most
important tourism places.
Suez (el-Suweis) is located on the Southern tip
of the Suez Canal, and has been a commercial port since the
7th century. The spice trade and pilgrimages to Mecca made it
prosperous throughout the Middle Ages. It became a naval base
in the 15th century and, in 1869, the opening of the Suez Canal
ensured its development as a modern city. Today, Suez is one
of Egypt's largest ports. It is situated near the scenic Ataga
Hills (Jebel Ataga), about 134 kilometers (83 miles) from Cairo
and 88 kilometers (55 miles) from Ismailia, this city affords
an excellent view of Sinai and the Red Sea. It is also interesting
to watch ships passing through the Canal form Suez's vantage
point.
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