Haifa is the largest city in Northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 264,900.

Haifa, built on the slopes of Mount Carmel, has a history dating back to Biblical times.

Today, the city is a major seaport located on Israel's Mediterranean coastline in the Bay of Haifa. It is located about 90 kilometres north of Tel Aviv and is the major regional center of northern Israel. Two respected academic institutions, the University of Haifa and the Technion, are located in Haifa, and the city plays an important role in Israel's economy. It has several high-tech parks, among them the oldest and largest in the country, an industrial port, and a petroleum refinery.