Dakahlia Governorate facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dakahlia Governorate
Governorate
Sunset in Mansoura with the Nile River
Flag
Dakahlia Governorate subdivisions (Marakiz)
Dakahlia Governorate on the map of Egypt
Country	Egypt
Seat	Mansoura (capital)
Area
• Total	3,500 km2 (1,400 sq mi)
Population  (January 2023)
• Total	7,013,271
• Density	2,004/km2 (5,190/sq mi)
GDP
• Total	EGP 294 billion (US$ 18.7 billion)
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
HDI (2021)	0.748 high · 7th

Dakahlia Governorate is a region in Egypt. It is located northeast of Cairo, the capital city of Egypt. The area of Dakahlia is about 3,500 square kilometers.

Even though Mansoura is its capital city, the governorate gets its name from an old town called Daqahlah. This ancient town is now in the Damietta Governorate. Its name comes from an old word meaning "shrine."

Discovering Ancient History in Dakahlia

Old Tombs and Treasures

Dakahlia is a place with a lot of ancient history. In February 2020, archaeologists found 83 tombs here. These tombs are very old, dating back to about 4,000 B.C. This time is known as the Naqada III period in ancient Egypt.

Inside these tombs, they found many interesting things. There were small pottery pots in different shapes. They also discovered sea shells, tools for makeup, eyeliner pots, and beautiful jewels. These items give us clues about how people lived long ago.

More Burial Sites Found

Later, in April 2021, even more tombs were found at a place called Koum el-Khulgan. This time, 110 burial tombs were uncovered!

Some of these tombs were oval-shaped and came from the Predynastic Period. Others were rectangular and belonged to the Second Intermediate Period. The rest were from the Naqada III period, just like the earlier finds.

These tombs held the remains of adults. One tomb even had a baby buried inside a jar. Along with the burials, archaeologists found ovens, stoves, and parts of old mud-brick buildings. They also discovered special items used for burials, like cylindrical and pear-shaped pots, and a bowl with cool geometric designs.

How Dakahlia is Organized

Local Divisions

The Dakahlia Governorate is split into smaller areas called municipal divisions. These are like different towns and districts within the larger region. As of January 2023, the total population of these divisions was estimated to be over 818,000 people.

Sometimes, a "kism" (a fully urban area) and a "markaz" (a larger area that includes both urban and rural parts) might have the same name. For example, the capital city, Mansoura, has its own divisions.

People Living in Dakahlia

Most people in Dakahlia Governorate live in the countryside. In 2015, about 28% of the people lived in cities. Out of nearly 6 million people, over 4 million lived in rural areas. By 2018, the total population had grown to about 6.5 million people.

Important Centers in the Governorate

Mansoura University Medical Center

Mansoura University has a very famous medical center. It is known for its Urology and Nephrology Center. This center specializes in treating kidney and urinary system problems. It was started in 1983 and is a leading place for medical care and research in the region.

Cities and Towns in Dakahlia

Here are some of the cities and towns you can find in Dakahlia:

• Aga
• Bilqas
• Damas
• Dikirnis
• El Gamaliya
• El Kurdi
• El Matareya
• El Senbellawein
• Gamasa
• Gogar
• Mansoura
• Manzala
• Mit Elkorama
• Mit Ghamr
• Mit Salsil
• Nabaroh
• Sherbin
• Temay El Amdeed
• Talkha

Places for Businesses

Industrial Zones

Dakahlia also has special areas set aside for factories and businesses. These are called industrial zones. They help create jobs and boost the economy. Two of these zones are:

• Southwest Gamasa
• Asafra

Famous People from Dakahlia

Many talented people come from Dakahlia Governorate.

Artists and Performers

• Ahmad Hasan al-Zayyat, a writer and thinker
• Anis Mansour, a famous writer
• Ali Mahmoud Taha, a romantic poet
• Adel Emam, a well-known movie and stage actor
• Faten Hamama, an actress and producer
• Hassan el-Imam, a film director
• Iman Mersal, a poet
• Khaled El Nabawy, an actor
• Mohamed Abla, an artist
• Mahmoud Mokhtar, a sculptor
• Naguib Surur, a poet and playwright
• No'man Ashour, a poet and playwright
• Ramy Essam, a musician
• Sherif Mounir, a movie and stage actor
• Umm Kulthum, a very famous singer and songwriter

Journalists

• Ahmed Mansour (journalist)
• Mohamed Makhzangi, a journalist and writer
• Mohammed Hussein Heikal, a journalist, writer, and politician
• Magdi Mehanna

Religious Figures

• Gad el-Haq, a former Grand Imam of Al-Azhar
• George El Mozahem, a Coptic Orthodox saint
• Mohamed Metwally Al-Shaarawy, an Islamic scholar
• Mahmoud Zakzouk, an academic and politician

Scientists

• Farouk El-Baz, a space scientist
• Mohamed Ghoneim, a urologist
• Saad Eddin Ibrahim, an academic and sociologist
• Selim Hassan, an Egyptologist (someone who studies ancient Egypt)

Athletes

• Ōsunaarashi Kintarō (Abdelrahman Shalan), a sumo wrestler
• Abdel-Zaher El-Saqqa, a footballer
• Amr Marey, a footballer
• Hussam El-Badrawi, a sports shooter
• Mahmoud Fathalla, a footballer
• Mahmoud El Khatib, a footballer
• Mahmoud Abou El-Saoud, a footballer
• Mohamed El Shamy (footballer, born 1996)
• Mimi El-Sherbini, a footballer
• Salah Soliman, a footballer

See also

In Spanish: Gobernación de Dacalia para niños