Haifa (Hebrew חֵיפָה Ḥefa; Arabic ØÙŽÙŠÙ’Ùَا ) is the main city of northern Israel and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of about 267,800 (as of May 2006). It and areas and towns around it are deemed to be in the Haifa District. It is a seaport, located below and on Mount Carmel, and lies on the Mediterranean coast.