Haifa (Hebrew חֵיפָה Heifa ; Arabic حَيْفَا Ḥayfā ) is the third largest city in Israel and the largest city in the north of the country with a population close to 300,000. The city is located on Israel's Mediterranean shoreline, on Mount Carmel and at its foot. Haifa is an important transportation, industrial and cultural center and one of Israel's most important maritime trade centers.