Port Said

views updated

Port Said (Bur Sa'id) City and seaport in ne Egypt, at the entrance to the Suez Canal. Founded in 1859 with the start of the construction of the Suez Canal, it was a major coal-bunkering station. By the end of the 19th century it was Egypt's chief port after Alexandria. Although its harbour closed to shipping in 1967, after the war with Israel, it remained a fuelling station for ships using the canal. It reopened in 1974. Industries: fishing, tobacco, cotton, textiles. Pop. (1996) 469,533.

More From encyclopedia.com