Ismailia

Ismailia الإسماعيلية
Administrative building
Flag Seal
Nickname(s): The City of Beauty and Enchantment
Ismailia Location in Egypt
Coordinates: 30°35′N 32°16′E / 30.583°N 32.267°E / 30.583; 32.267
Country	Egypt
Governorate	Ismailia
Area
• Total	210 km2 (80 sq mi)
Elevation	13 m (43 ft)
Population (2012)
• Total	366,669
• Density	1,700/km2 (4,500/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Ismailiata
Time zone	EET (UTC+2)
Area code(s)	(+20) 69 or (+20) 64

Ismailia (Arabic: الإسماعيلية‎‎ al-Ismāʻīlīyah  Egyptian Arabic pronunciation: [lesmæʕiˈlejjæ]) is a city in north-eastern Egypt. Known in Egypt as "The City of Beauty and Enchantment", Ismailia is situated on the west bank of the Suez Canal, it is the capital of the Ismailia Governorate. The city has a population (including surrounding rural areas) of approximately 750,000 inhabitants. It is located approximately halfway between Port Said to the north and Suez to the south. The Canal widens at that point to include Lake Timsah, one of the Bitter Lakes linked by the Canal.

Ismailia was founded in 1863, during the construction of the Suez Canal, by Khedive Ismail the Magnificent, after whom the city is named. Following the Battle of Kafr-el-Dawwar in 1882 the British established a base there.

The head office of the Suez Canal Authority is located in Ismailia 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.

During World War I the British had an air base there and the Battle of Romani took place nearby.