Latakia; Lattakia or Latakiyah (   Syrian pronunciation: ), is the principal port city of Syria, as well as the capital of the Latakia Governorate. Historically, it has also been known as Laodicea or Laodicea ad Mare. In addition to serving as a port, the city is a manufacturing center for surrounding agricultural towns and villages. According to the 2004 official census, the population of the city is 383,786. It is the 5th-largest city in Syria after Aleppo, Damascus, Homs and Hama, and it borders Tartus to the south, Hama to the east, and Idlib to the north.