Tel Aviv

Coordinates: 32°4′N 34°47′E / 32.067°N 34.783°E / 32.067; 34.783
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Tel-Aviv
תֵּל־אָבִיב-יָפוֹ (Hebrew)

تل أبيب (Arabic)
City
Flag of Tel-Aviv
Coat of arms of Tel-Aviv
Tel-Aviv is located in Israel
Tel-Aviv
Tel-Aviv
Location in Israel
Coordinates: 32°4′N 34°47′E / 32.067°N 34.783°E / 32.067; 34.783
CountryIsrael
DistrictTel Aviv (Mehoz Tel Aviv)
Founded11 April 1909
Government
 • MayorRon Huldai
Area
 • City51.4 km2 (19.8 sq mi)
 • Metro
1,469 km2 (567 sq mi)
Elevation
5 m (16 ft)
Population
 (2018)[1]
 • City451,523 (2,018)
 • Density8,468/km2 (21,930/sq mi)
 • Urban
1,388,400
 • Metro
3,854,000
 • Metro density2,286/km2 (5,920/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+2 (Israel Standard Time (IST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (Israel Summer Time (IDT))
Area code+972 (Israel) + 3 (Tel Aviv)
Websitetel-aviv.gov.il (in English)

The city of Tel Aviv-Yafo (Hebrew: תֵּל־אָבִיב-יָפוArabic: تَلْ أَبِيبْ-يَافَا) is a municipality in Israel, often just called Tel Aviv. It is Israel's second largest city and main commercial, financial, industrial and cultural center. It is on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea.

As of 2024, there are 4.4 million people living in Tel Aviv.[2] Tel Aviv is a part of an area of cities called Gush Dan, which is the largest metropolitan area of Israel. There is around 3.4 million people living in this urban area.[3]

History[change | change source]

In 1909, Jewish people started building Tel Aviv northeast of Jaffa, making it the first city founded by Jews in modern times. Tel Aviv was part of Jaffa at first, but it became a separate town in 1921. Tel Aviv grew quickly as Jewish immigrants arrived, mainly from Europe.

Between the years 1925-1929 the Scottish city planner Sir Patrick Geddes was design the first city plan for Tel Aviv.

In the early 1930s the area of the Yarkon River mouth has began to develop with the opening of the international trade fair - the "Orient Fair" and the opening of the "Tel Aviv Port" beside him. from the other side of the Yarkon River was built the Reading Power Station and the Sde Dov Airport.

It was Israel's first capital when the nation was established in 1948. The capital was moved to Jerusalem in 1949, but the Israeli Ministry of Defense and many foreign embassies stayed in Tel Aviv. Most Israeli ministries that are located in Jerusalem, have offices in Tel Aviv. The national intelligence agencies of Israel, Mossad (external security), Aman (military intelligence) and Shin Bet (internal security) also have their headquarters in Tel Aviv.

In 1950, Tel Aviv and Jaffa (called Yafo in Hebrew) joined to into the city of Tel Aviv-Yafo. Tel Aviv-Yafo is the official name of the city, but it is almost always called Tel Aviv.

Tel Aviv continued to grow quickly in the 1950s and 1960s. The fast growth of the Tel Aviv area caused problems such as air pollution, slums, and traffic that took until the 2000s to fix. Traffic is still a problem. That is why the Tel Aviv Light Rail is being built to ease the road traffic. Most of the people of Tel Aviv live in apartment buildings.

During the Persian Gulf War of 1991, Iraq fired about 25 missiles toward Tel Aviv. Several missiles and falling debris struck residential areas in or around Tel Aviv. Two people were killed, and about 7,500 apartments were damaged.

Cultural life[change | change source]

The cultural center of Tel Aviv is a downtown intersection of streets at Dizengoff Circle. Fashionable shops and sidewalk cafes line the nearby streets. The 37-story Shalom Tower is in the city's financial district, several blocks south of Dizengoff Circle. It is the tallest building in Israel. The southwestern part of the city was once the separate town of Jaffa. Jaffa, an ancient port from Biblical times, has many historic place that have been restored by archaeologists. Jaffa also has many art galleries, cafes, restaurants, and nightclubs.

The Israeli opera, and Habima Theater, Israel's national theater, was are in Tel Aviv.[4] Tel Aviv is home to a number of dance centers and companies. The Batsheva Dance Company, a contemporary dance group, as well as the Bat-Dor Dance Company and the Israel Ballet are headquartered in Tel Aviv. Tel Aviv's center for modern and classical dance is the Suzanne Dellal Center.[5]

Museums in Tel Aviv include Haaretz Museum and the Tel Aviv Art Museum.

Tel Aviv University is one of the city's several institutions of higher learning. Bar Ilan University is in Ramat Gan, a suburb of the city.

Tel Aviv is also described as the LGBTQIA+ capital of Israel with 25% of the population being gay and having the most gay strip clubs, gay night clubs, and gay bars.[6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15]

Economy[change | change source]

The Tel Aviv area is Israel's main manufacturing district. About half of the nation's business companies are in the area. Their products include computer software, electronic equipment, machine tools, building materials, chemicals, clothing, and processed foods. The city is also the nation's main center for banking, publishing, and trade and the home of the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. Abu Kabir Forensic Institute, the nation's only forensics institute, is located there.

View of Tel Aviv from Moshe Aviv Tower

Twin towns and sister cities[change | change source]

Tel Aviv has a partnership with Los Angeles (United States), and is twinned with:

Partner city[change | change source]

References[change | change source]

  1. "The population development in Tel Aviv". Israel Cnetral Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 2019-12-17. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  2. "Tel Aviv Population 2024". worldpopulationreview.com. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  3. "Israel Population 2024 (Live)". worldpopulationreview.com. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  4. "History and Architecture". Israel Opera. Archived from the original on 2015-11-28. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  5. "Tel Aviv Activities". iExplore.com. Archived from the original on 2008-06-02. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
  6. "WHY TEL AVIV IS THE ULTIMATE LGBTQ TRAVEL DESTINATION". Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  7. "Is Tel Aviv the gay capital of the world?". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 2023-02-14. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  8. "Welcome to Tel Aviv, the gayest city on earth - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. March 17, 2016. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  9. "A Tale of Two Cities: Gay Pride in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv | Reform Judaism". reformjudaism.org. 2023-12-13. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  10. "LGBT Rights: Between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem: An Overview of LGBT+ Life in Israel". www.freiheit.org. 2022-04-06. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  11. Kenworthy, Jack (2018-02-02). "Gay Tel Aviv, Israel | The Essential LGBT Travel Guide!". Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  12. "The Ultimate LGBTQ Guide To Tel Aviv". Matador Network. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  13. "Tel Aviv Gay Guide (2024) – Hotels, Bars, Beaches & Parties". 2020-03-31. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  14. JNi.Media (2016-03-19). "Is Tel Aviv Really the Gayest City on the Planet?". Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  15. "How big (in terms of numbers) is the Jewish gay community in Tel Aviv?". Quora. Retrieved 2024-01-12.

Related pages[change | change source]

Other websites[change | change source]