Thiès (Arabic: ثيس; Noon: Chess) is the third largest city in Senegal with a population officially estimated at 320,000 in 2005. It lies 72 km (45 mi) east of Dakar on the N2 road and at the junction of railway lines to Dakar, Bamako and St-Louis. It is the capital of Thiès Region and is a major industrial city.