![cover image](https://wikiwandv2-19431.kxcdn.com/_next/image?url=https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ad/Tanta-1.jpg/640px-Tanta-1.jpg&w=640&q=50)
Tanta
City in Gharbia, Egypt / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tanta (Egyptian Arabic: طنطا Ṭanṭa pronounced [ˈtˤɑntˤɑ], Coptic: ⲧⲁⲛⲧⲁⲑⲟ) is a city in Egypt. Tanta had a population of 658,798 in 2018, making it the fifth most populous city in Egypt.[2] Tanta is located between Cairo and Alexandria: 94 km (58 mi) north of Cairo and 130 km (81 mi) southeast of Alexandria. The capital of Gharbia Governorate,[3] it is a center for the cotton-ginning industry.[4]
Tanta
طنطا | |
---|---|
Counter-clockwise from top: Tanta Overview, Ahmad Al-Badawi Mosque, Sheikha Sabah Mosque dome, Sabil Ali-Bek | |
Nickname: Tanta | |
Coordinates: 30°47′N 31°0′E | |
Country | ![]() |
Governorate | Gharbia |
Area | |
• Total | 50.5 km2 (19.5 sq mi) |
Elevation | 12 m (39 ft) |
Population (2021)[1] | |
• Total | 576,648 |
• Density | 11,000/km2 (30,000/sq mi) |
Time zone | UTC+02:00 (EET) |
Area code | (+20) 40 |
One of the major railway lines goes through Tanta.[5][6] Annual festivals are held in Tanta for one week beginning on 11 October celebrating the birthday of Ahmad al-Badawi, a revered Sufi figure of the 13th century, who founded the Badawiyya Tariqa in Egypt and is buried in Ahmad Al-Badawi Mosque, the main mosque of Tanta. Tanta is known for its sweet shops and roasted chickpeas.[7]