Mansoura, Egypt facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mansoura المنصورة
City
From top left: Mansoura Nile river, Mansoura Art, Mansoura buildings, Mansoura sunset, Mansoura bridge,
Nickname(s):  Nile's Bride
The Nile Delta
Mansoura Location in Egypt
Country	Egypt
Governorate	Dakahlia
Founded	1219
Area
• Total	28.2 km2 (10.9 sq mi)
Elevation	15 m (49 ft)
Population  (2021)
• Total	621,953
• Density	22,060/km2 (57,120/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
Area code(s)	+(20) 50

Mansoura is a city in Egypt. It is located on the eastern side of the Damietta branch of the Nile river. Mansoura is the capital city of the Dakahlia Governorate. In 2021, about 621,953 people lived there.

What Does Mansoura Mean?

The name Mansoura means "victorious" in Arabic. The city got its name after a big battle in 1250. This was the El Mansoura Battle where Egyptians won against Louis IX of France during the Seventh Crusade.

A Look Back: Mansoura's History

Mansoura was founded in 1219 by al-Kamil. He was a ruler from the Ayyubid family. The city was built on the Nile river, where older villages once stood. After the Egyptians won against the Crusaders, the city was proudly named Mansoura, meaning "The Victorious".

During the Seventh Crusade, the French army was defeated. Many thousands of their soldiers died. Louis IX of France, the king, was captured. He was held in the house of Ibrahim Ibn Lokman, who was the sultan's secretary. Today, this house is the only museum in Mansoura. You can visit it and see things that belonged to King Louis IX, like his personal toilet from the 1200s!

Another important event was the Mansoura Air Battle. This happened on October 14, 1973, during the Yom Kippur War. Israeli Air Force planes attacked Egyptian air bases. Egyptian Air Force fighters met them in the sky. About 160 jet fighters fought for 53 minutes over Mansoura. Egypt said they shot down 17 Israeli planes, while Israel said only 2. Egypt lost six planes. To remember this important victory, Egypt changed its "Air Force Day" to October 14.

Where is Mansoura?

Mansoura's Location

Mansoura is on the east bank of the Damietta branch of the Nile river. It is in the Delta region of Egypt. The city is about 120 kilometers (75 miles) northeast of Cairo. Across the Nile from Mansoura is the town of Talkha.

Mansoura's Weather

Mansoura has a hot desert climate. This means it is usually very hot and dry.

Mansoura's Culture and Landmarks

Entrance to the Shinnawi Palace

People in Mansoura speak a northern Egyptian Arabic dialect. It has some sounds similar to the dialect spoken in Alexandria.

The Mansoura National Museum is very special. It used to be Dar Ibn Lockman, the house where Louis IX was held captive in 1250. Inside the museum, you can see old armor and swords from the crusaders. There are also large paintings that show the Battle of Mansoura.

The Mansoura Misr Library opened in 2008. It is a branch of the National Library.

Mansoura is known for its unique buildings. One famous building is the Shinnawi Palace. An Italian architect built it in 1928. The mosque of El-Saleh Ayoub El-Kebir is also very important. It was built by a loyal servant of the Sultan. This mosque is in Al-Sagha Street, which divides the old and new parts of the city.

Mansoura used to have a thriving Greek community. There was also a small Italian population. Many old shops still have their original Greek names.

Learning and Sports in Mansoura

University of Mansoura

The University of Mansoura was started in 1962. It first began as a part of Cairo University. The university has a famous center for Urology (kidney and urinary system health) and Nephrology (kidney diseases). This center is considered one of the best in the Middle East and Africa.

Mansoura also has a sports stadium. It is called Mansoura Stadium and is home to the city's football team.

Sports Clubs in Mansoura

• Gezert Elward Sport Club: This club is right on the Nile river. It has tennis courts, swimming pools, and areas for gymnastics and squash. The gymnastics team has won many medals in championships.
• Mansoura Sports Club: This club has an official football field.
• Mansoura Sports Stadium: This stadium has an official football field, a swimming pool, and many other sports facilities.
• The Olympic Village (Mansoura University Stadium): This large area is open to university students and staff. It has facilities for many individual and team sports.
• Nile Club: This club was created in 1993. It is a cultural, social, sports, and fun place for university staff and their families.

Famous People from Mansoura

Many well-known people come from Mansoura, including:

• Adel Emam, a famous Egyptian actor.
• Hassan El-Imam, an Egyptian film director.
• Mohamed Ghoneim, a leading urologist.
• Anis Mansour, an Egyptian writer.
• Gad al-Haq Ali Gad al-Haq, a respected Islamic scholar.
• Ibrahim Salah, a footballer.
• Muhammad Metwali Alsharawi, a public figure and Islamic scholar.
• Pope Tawadros II, the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church.
• Umm Kulthum, a legendary singer known as Kawkab al-Sharq (Star of the East).
• Farouk El-Baz, a space scientist.
• Ahmed Hamdi, an engineer.
• Hesham Sallam, a paleontologist.
• Kareem Abu-Elmagd, an organ transplant surgeon.
• Ahmed Hamed, an Olympic pentathlete.

See also

In Spanish: El Mansura para niños