Ismailia is the capital of Egypt's Al Isma'iliyah Governorate. It has a population of approximately 750,000. It is located on the west bank of the Suez Canal, approximately half way between Port Said to the north and Suez to the south. The Canal widens at that point to include Timsah, one of the Bitter Lakes linked by the Canal. It was founded in 1863, during the construction of the Suez Canal, by Ismailia the Magnificent, after whom the city is named. The head office of the Suez Canal Authority is located in Ismailia at the shore of Lake Timsah. It still has a large number of buildings dating from British and French involvement with the Canal. Most of these buildings are still used by Canal employees and officials.Ismailia does get tourists from within Egypt; the city is approximately a ninety minute automobile drive from Cairo. From Ismailia it is approximately a four hour drive to Sharm el Sheikh in South Sinai. Driving to the Taba Border Crossing at Taba and the Rafah Border Crossing at Rafah are both approximately four hour drives.