Tanta
Tanta (Egyptian Arabic: طنطا Ṭanṭa pronounced [ˈtˤɑntˤɑ], Coptic: ⲧⲁⲛⲧⲁⲑⲟ) is a city in Egypt. With a population of 658,798, as of 2018, it is the country's fifth most populous city. 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, it is a center for the cotton-ginning industry.
Tanta
طنطا | |
|---|---|
Clockwise from top: Sheikha Sabah Mosque dome, Ahmad Al-Badawi Mosque, Sabil Ali-Bek, Tanta Overview | |
| Nickname: Tanta | |
Tanta Location of Tanta within Egypt | |
| Coordinates: 30°47′N 31°0′E | |
| Country | Egypt |
| Governorate | Gharbia |
| Area | |
| • Total | 19.5 km2 (7.5 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 12 m (39 ft) |
| Population (2021) | |
| • Total | 576,648 |
| • Density | 30,000/km2 (77,000/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+02:00 (EET) |
| Area code | (+20) 40 |
One of the major railway lines goes through Tanta. 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.