Tanta (Egyptian Arabic:طنطاṬanṭa pronounced[ˈtˤɑntˤɑ], Coptic: ⲧⲁⲛⲧⲁⲑⲟ) is a city in Egypt. It is the country's fifth largest populated area, with an estimated 429,000 inhabitants (2008). Tanta is located 94km (58mi) north of Cairo and 130km (81mi) southeast of Alexandria. The capital of the Gharbia Governorate, it is a centre for the cotton-ginning industry and the main railroad hub of the Nile Delta.