30°43′N31°15′E / 30.717°N 31.250°E /30.717; 31.250
 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Mit Ghamr" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(November 2018) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Mit Ghamr | |
|---|---|
 Old photo of children and their father playingcricket at Mit Ghamr Railway station. The father lost his leg whilst working with the Egyptianlabour corps inSinai. | |
 The Nile Delta | |
  Mit Ghamr Location in Egypt | |
| Coordinates:30°43′N31°15′E / 30.717°N 31.250°E /30.717; 31.250 | |
| Country |  Egypt |
| Governorate | Dakahlia |
| Area | |
• Total | 5.14 sq mi (13.31 km2) |
| Elevation | 62 ft (19 m) |
| Population (2021)[1] | |
• Total | 153,754 |
| • Density | 30,000/sq mi (12,000/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EST) |
Mit Ghamr (Arabic:ميت غمر,IPA:[ˈmiːtˈɣɑmɾ]) is acity inDakahlia Governorate,Egypt. It is a major center producingaluminium accounting for more than 70% of Egypt's total production, especiallyaluminum utensils. It is a city inDakahlia Governorate, where it is second only toAl Mansurah in population and importance,It was a center ofSufism during theMamluk era, and was later settled by foreign communities in the modern era. It also played a role in resisting the French and British occupations.
Mit Ghamr was historically known as "Minyat Ghamr", but Over time, the name evolved into its current form.[2]
During the Mamluk era, the city was a center for Sufi scholars and religious figures, attracting disciples from across Egypt. Several historical shrines remain, such as the Shrine of Sidi Muhammad al-Wa’iz, Sidi Khalaf, and the Forty Saints, dating back to the 15th century. The MamlukSultan Qaitbay attempted to meet Abu al-Abbas al-Ghamri, one of the city's renowned Sufi figures, but was unsuccessful, so he later sent his son to visit him.[3]
In theOttoman era, Mit Ghamr thrived as a key trade hub due to its strategic location along the Nile River trade routes. However, the city suffered significant destruction when Abd al-Daim bin Baqar, a rebel Arab tribal leader, burned it down during his revolt against Ottoman rule.[4]
DuringNapoleon’s invasion of Egypt, Mit Ghamr resisted by cutting off supplies to the French forces along the Nile Which angered the French. On June 5, 1799, the French attempted to crush a revolt in Mit Ghamr. They headed towards the village of Kafr Negm insharqia where the Mit Ghamr rebels had gathered, preparing to confront the French. A fierce battle ensued between the two sides, ending in the defeat of the rebels, who suffered 130 casualties.Napoleon Bonaparte then ordered the reinforcement of French forces in Mit Ghamr by establishing permanent military garrisons to maintain control of the Nile Delta. However, Mit Ghamr witnessed several subsequent disturbances, forcing the French army to resort to repressive and violent methods to impose security and stability. In retaliation for the seizure of the ships, the FrenchGeneral Lanusse ordered the burning and destruction of the city.[5]
By the 19th and early 20th centuries, during the rule of theMuhammad Ali dynasty, Mit Ghamr became home to a large foreign community, including Greeks, Italians, and French residents. At its peak in the late 19th century, the foreign population exceeded 200 individuals, which was significant for a provincial Egyptian city. Many European-style villas and mansions remain from this period, such as the Babban Mansion (formerly an Italian bank) and the Imbroir Mansion.[4]
In 1902, a huge fire broke out in Mit Ghamr that lasted 12 days and spread to the surrounding villages. The result of this fire was the death of more than 5,000 people,This prompted many celebrities in Egypt to ask people to donate to rebuild the city and help its people. Among the most prominent of these was the writerMustafa Lutfi Al-Manfaluti and ImamMuhammad Abduh, who said about the incident: “The accident is not a minor one; the number of injured is five thousand and a few hundred, including children who lost their families, and merchants and craftsmen whose machines and capital were destroyed, and it is impossible for them to start life again except with the help of their brothers, otherwise they will become vagrants, voyeurists, or beggars.”[6]which made this incident the subject of poems of mourning by Egyptian poets such asAhmed Shawqi andHafez Ibrahim.[7]
Mit Ghamr, like other Egyptian cities, felt negative feelings toward the British occupation[8].During the British occupation of Mit Ghamr witnessed resistance against British forces, particularly concerning the railway lines. General Wilson sent a train to repair the damaged railway, but it was ambushed by locals who cut the line behind it. A British rescue force attempted to intervene but withdrew in the face of strong resistance from a local Vigilance Committee. Subsequent clashes occurred, with British forces claiming to have killed 30 people, then 50 more, while dispersing further attempts to destroy the railway. Additional reinforcements were deployed, resulting in 10 more casualties. Despite these efforts, Wilson admitted that Mit Ghamr remained outside British control for some time, and the railway continued to be a target of local resistance.[9]Also one of the most notable events occurred after Youssef El-Gindi declared theZifta Republic in 1919. British forces sent military reinforcements to storm Zifta. After failing to take control, the forces withdrew to Mit Ghamr to regroup in preparation for a new attack. However, they encountered fierce resistance from the people of Mit Ghamr,[10] prompting Britain to dispatch the 15th Australian Cavalry Regiment to quell the unrest in the city and ensure the restoration of control.[11][12] British forces also used armored trains to protect railway lines and secure military supplies, which played a pivotal role in British military operations during this period.[13]
TheEdinburgh Medical Missionary Society withFrederick Oakley Lasbrey founded a medical mission in Mit Ghamr in 1928.[14]
In 2013, Mit Ghamr witnessed widespread protests and demonstrations against theMuslim Brotherhood in front of the group's headquarters in the city, leading to clashes between protesters and Brotherhood members, culminating in the storming and destruction of the headquarters.[15]
Mit Ghamr is located onDamietta branch of theNile, and just on the opposite side of the Nile located another city calledZifta which belongs toGharbia Governorate. Mit Ghamr is located in the middle of four governorates,Dakahlia to the north,Al Qaliobiah to the south,Al Sharqiah to the east and Al Gharbiah to the west. It is about 43 kilometers away fromAl Mansurah and 28 kilometers away fromZagazig, the capital of Sharqia, also about 35 kilometers fromBanha, the capital of Qalyubia, and 29 kilometers fromTanta, the capital of Al Gharbiah.[2]
Mit Ghamr includes many villages such as Mit Yaeish, Mit El Faramawi, Mit Nagy, Dundait, Masara, Simbo Maqam, Makkam, Kafr Serenga, Sant Mai, and Sanafa. Those villages are located around the city where farmers grow various crops such ascorn,rice,wheat andcotton.
Köppen-Geiger climate classification system classifies its climate ashot desert (BWh).
| Climate data for Mit Ghamr | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 18.7 (65.7) | 20 (68) | 22.8 (73.0) | 27 (81) | 31.6 (88.9) | 33.8 (92.8) | 34 (93) | 34 (93) | 32.1 (89.8) | 29.6 (85.3) | 25 (77) | 20.7 (69.3) | 27.4 (81.4) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 12 (54) | 12.9 (55.2) | 15.4 (59.7) | 18.9 (66.0) | 23.1 (73.6) | 25.8 (78.4) | 26.8 (80.2) | 26.7 (80.1) | 24.8 (76.6) | 22.5 (72.5) | 19 (66) | 14.3 (57.7) | 20.2 (68.3) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 5.4 (41.7) | 5.9 (42.6) | 8.1 (46.6) | 10.9 (51.6) | 14.7 (58.5) | 17.8 (64.0) | 19.7 (67.5) | 19.5 (67.1) | 17.5 (63.5) | 15.5 (59.9) | 13 (55) | 8 (46) | 13.0 (55.3) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 9 (0.4) | 6 (0.2) | 5 (0.2) | 2 (0.1) | 2 (0.1) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 3 (0.1) | 6 (0.2) | 10 (0.4) | 43 (1.7) |
| Source:Climate-Data.org[18] | |||||||||||||
The population of markaz MIT Ghamr is698,863 as of 2023[19]and the population of Mit Ghamr city is156,319 as of 2023.[20]
InTafahna [ar], one of the many villages surrounding Mit Ghamr, is a newly-founded branch ofAl Azhar University. This university was built by locals and serves hundreds of students.
Inside Mit Ghamr itself is the Faculty of Specific Education,Mansoura University Branch.[21]
In Mit Ghamr was the city in whichDr. Ahmad El Naggar set up the first Islamic bank which pioneered the globalIslamic Banking system.[22][23][24]
PresidentAbdel Fattah El-Sisi inaugurated the Mit Ghamr Investment Zone, covering a total area of 18 acres, at a cost of EGP 418 million, with the aim of supporting economic and social development in Egypt, attracting foreign investments, encouraging local investments and providing job opportunities, as it includes 107 industrial units.[25]
The vast majority of the city's population, like most Egyptian cities, are Muslims, specifically Sunni Muslims. The city also contains a large number of mosques and small prayer corners.
Christians in the city constitute a small percentage, and the majority of them are Coptic Orthodox. The city also contains many churches for the Orthodox and Protestant denominations, and some of these churches are considered historic churches, such as:
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
