Haifa (Hebrew: חֵיפָה Heifa , Hebrew pronunciation: [χeiˈfa]; Arabic: حيفا Ḥayfā ) is the largest city in northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 268,000. Another 300,000 people live in towns directly adjacent to the city including the cities of the Krayot, as well as, Tirat Carmel, Daliyat al-Karmel, some Kibbuzim and Nesher. Together these areas form a contiguous urban area home to nearly 600,000 residents which makes up the inner core of the Haifa metropolitan area. Haifa is a mixed city: 90% are Jews, more than a quarter of whom are immigrants from the former Soviet Union, while 10% are Arabs, predominantly of the Christian religion.[4] It is also home to the Bahá'í World Centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
