Tyre, Lebanon

Tyre is a major city located in Lebanon along the Mediterranean Sea coast.

It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. The city serves as the capital of the Tyre District within the South Governorate. Currently, it is the fifth-largest city in Lebanon, following Beirut, Tripoli, Sidon, and Baalbek. In 2016, the urban area had approximately 200,000 inhabitants. This population includes many refugees living in three Palestinian refugee camps: Burj El Shimali, El Buss, and Rashidieh. Because of its immense historical value, the entire city was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.

The city's physical geography has changed dramatically over thousands of years. Originally, Tyre was an island located 500 to 700 metres offshore.

The name Tyre may come from the Phoenician word "S'r," which means rock. This refers to the rocky formation upon which the original settlement was built. The ancient city relied on two distinct harbors for its international trade network. The northern harbor was known as the Sidonian port. The southern harbor was called the Egyptian port. Recent underwater surveys have helped identify submerged structures that likely belonged to these ancient maritime systems.

A major geological transformation occurred in 332 BCE during the conquests of Alexander the Great. To seize the island city, Alexander constructed a massive causeway. This structure was approximately 750 metres long and 60 metres wide. It was built over a submarine shoal that was less than 5.4 metres deep. This causeway acted as a barrier to natural water movements. It interrupted the longshore transport of sand along the coast. As a result, sand and silt accumulated on both sides of the path. This process created a sandy isthmus, also known as a tombolo, which permanently linked the island to the mainland. Over several centuries, this isthmus widened significantly through further silt deposition.

The history of Tyre spans from the Bronze Age to the present day. It was a prominent Phoenician city-state between the 9th and 6th centuries BC. During this time, it established prestigious colonies like Carthage and Leptis Magna. The city later fell under Persian rule in 572 BC. Following the Hellenistic and Roman periods, it saw significant Byzantine and Medieval development. Today, the modern city covers much of the original island and the Alexander-era causeway. Much of the land that is not built up remains an archaeological site. These sites showcase ruins from many different ancient eras.

Tyre possesses a hot-summer Mediterranean climate, classified as Csa under the Köppen system. The region enjoys about 300 days of sunshine every year. The average yearly temperature is 20.8°C. In August, the average maximum temperature reaches 30.8°C. In January, the average minimum temperature drops to 10°C. The Mediterranean Sea surrounding the city stays warm in the summer. Sea temperatures can reach a maximum of 32°C in August. However, at a depth of 70 metres, the water stays a constant 17 to 18°C. The annual mean precipitation reaches up to 645 mm.

The local environment includes fertile coastal plains and important natural reserves. The Tyre Coast Nature Reserve was established in 1998 by the Ministry of Public Works. This reserve includes a 1.8 km stretch of sandy beach and a 2 km stretch of agricultural land. The area features artesian wells and freshwater springs like Ras El Ain. These springs, along with the Litani River, have supported settlements since prehistoric times. Agriculture is vital to the region's economy. In 2017, about 44% of the urban territory was used for intra-urban agriculture.

While the area is beautiful, it faces several modern environmental and geological challenges. The city is located near the Roum Fault and the Yammouneh Fault. While the earthquake threat level is generally low or moderate, tsunamis and landslides pose risks. Additionally, rising sea levels due to global warming threaten the peninsula with coastal erosion. There are also concerns regarding seawater pollution from wastewater and solid waste. Beneath the waters off the coast, vast reserves of natural gas are estimated to exist. However, the exploitation of these resources has been delayed by border disputes with Israel.