El Mina
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| El-Mina (الميناء) | |
| Administration | |
|---|---|
| Country |  Lebanon |
| Governorate | North Governorate |
| District | Tripoli District |
El-Mina (الميناء) is an ancient city situated at the seashore of North Lebanon. El-Mina, formerly known as "Al-Askaleh" is the parent city of Lebanon's second largest city, Tripoli. Border lined by Tripoli from the north west, El-Mina is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea, and acts as a hub for merchants and cargo ships on the trade circuit between North Africa and Europe.
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[edit] History
El Mina is an ancient city that dates back to the Phoenecian era, and is one of Lebanon's first urban cities. Alongside Byblos, Tyre and Sidon, El-Mina's first inhabitants were fishermen, who then became seamen and the city was renowned as docking station for the trade ships that travelled the Mediterranean. Since the phoenecians, many empires that ruled the Middle East coast line, since the Bizantiane, Islamic, Mamlouk and later the Ottomans, sought to conquer the city, as it played a vital role in the protection of the region against foreign attacks from the Mediterranean, and its strong economy was vital for the prosperity of the region. Nevertheless, in 1420 A.D. the mamlouk Sultan Kalawoun, order the destruction of the city, and the rebuilding of the city 15 Kilometers away from the coastline, to protect it from the foreign invading fleets. The city was rebuilt around the castle of St. Gilles, and became known as Tripoli. Kalawoun built seven forts around Tripoli, to protect it. Three of the forts were located in El-Mina , and one of them still stands to this day. The 'Burj El- Siba In ruines, many of the inhabitants of the city refused to leave the coastline, as it was their main source of income, and as fishermen and seamen, the sea was part of their nature. The city remained a small town shadowed by the larger city, until the arrival of the Othomans, when the sea trade was revitalized.
[edit] Geography
El-Mina is the city with the largest number of islands surrounding it, along the 'Bilad El-Cham' coastline. It has seven islands, the closest, the Abdul Wahab Island can be visited by crossing a bridge over the sea. The farthest island, 'Ramkin' , is 10 kilometers away from the coast, and has a lighthouse. Four of the islands have been declared as natural reservations , to help breed fish, and preserve their natural habitat. The city's seashore extends 15 kilometers, and it's famous seashore sidewalk, the "corniche", is a popular site frequented by people from all around Lebanon, who come to enjoy the fresh air. The city is mostly flat, and has a diameter of 10 KM, that extends from the seashore to the border of the city of Tripoli. Due to large expansion, El-Mina and Tripoli are almost attached, except for a roundabout that indicate the separation between the two cities, close to 100 meters distance.
[edit] Islands
- Al-Bakkar (The Cows) island: (Commonly known as Abdul Wahab Island)is the closest island to the coastline, and can be reached by crossing a bridge.
- Al-Nakhl (Palm Tree)Island: is the second largest island and is declared a national fish preservation
- Al-Balan Island : Largest island
- Al-Ramkin : El-Mina's farthest island, and has a lighthouse. The island was frequented by slain Prime Minister Rashid Karami, who sought refuge at the island for moments of peace and quiet.
[edit] Demographics
El-Mina is one of Lebanon's most demographically diverse cities, with many different communities, of various different sects. The religious diversity is of particular importance in Lebanon, where within the country, the cities and villages are segregatted on the basis of religious sects. El-Mina's neighbouring city, for example, is pre-dominantly Sunni Muslim. The diversity of El-Mina can be very similar to the diversity of Lebanon's capital, Beirut. Be it Sunni muslims, Communists, Protestants, Catholics, Orthodox,Armenians, Shiites, all find a home in El-Mina. The city is also a regular destination for foreigners, most notably mediterraneans, who tend to enjoy the diversity and richness of the city, and its unique atmosphere. Because of its location, it is frequented by Mediterranean sailors. Being at the heart of mediterranean trade, the city's culture is rich with cross-cultural interaction, and many "Minawees" as they are called, speak many different languages, such as Greek, Italian, Spanich, in addition to French, English, and Arabic, which pre-dominantly all Lebanese speak or have some knowledge off.
El-Mina is an autonomous entity within the Lebanese government: it has its own municipality, fire brigade, police department, city hall, and Lebanon's second largest harbor, the Tripoli Harbor, which falls within El-Mina jurisdiction, but is operated jointly by El-Mina and Tripoli.
[edit] Landmarks
- Bourj Al-Siba'a: The only remaining tower of the seven protective towers that were built around the city during the Mamlouk period to protect the city from foreign invasions.
- The Corniche : The city's most visited site of the city. A long sidewalk along the coast of the city , approximately 4.5 km long, where people come for a walk, sports and leisure activities such as fishing and sailing. A large number of cafes along the corniche is an attractive site for tourists and locals alike.
