Gharbia Governorate

Gharbia Governorate "the western governorate" is one of the governorates of Egypt. It is located in the north of the country, south of Kafr El Sheikh Governorate, and north of Monufia Governorate. Its capital is Tanta, which is 90 km north of Cairo, and 120 km southeast of Alexandria. The largest city in Gharbia is El Mahalla El Kubra. The total area of Gharbia governorate is 1,942 km2. The name of al-Gharbiyya is an Arabic term meaning "The Western one" or "The Western Side". In the 13th century it comprised 165 villages, while the 15th-century geographer al-Qalqashandi describes it as fertile and prosperous. El Mahalla El Kobra was the provincial capital until 1836, when it was later succeeded by Tanta.