Skenderun

Skenderun, officially İskenderun, is a city and district in Hatay Province, southern Turkey. It lies on the eastern Mediterranean coast, at the head of the Gulf of İskenderun, near the border with Syria. The city is best known for its port, one of Turkey's largest, which serves as a major gateway for trade and industry in the region.

The Turkish name İskenderun means "Alexander's port" and reflects its historical associations with the Hellenistic and later eras. The area has ancient roots and has been under various empires, including the Seleucids and Ottomans. In the modern era, the town grew as an industrial and port center within the Ottoman and Turkish states.

İskenderun hosts the port and a significant steelworks complex, the Isdemir facility, which has been a cornerstone of regional industry. The port handles container, bulk, and general cargo and plays a key role in the transportation network of southern Turkey. The city is connected by road and rail to other parts of the country.

Geographically, İskenderun has a Mediterranean climate, with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. It sits near Antakya and the broader Hatay hinterland and serves as a coastal gateway for visitors and commerce.

In February 2023, a major earthquake struck southern Turkey and northern Syria, causing extensive damage in Hatay Province including İskenderun, with loss of life and widespread destruction. Recovery and humanitarian relief followed.