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How did the island of Pharos help make Alexandria a useful harbor?
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Alexandria
The mosque of Abū al-ʿAbbās al-Mursī, Alexandria, Egypt.
The island of Pharos was instrumental in making Alexandria a premier harbor city in several key ways:
- Natural Anchorage: The island provided excellent natural anchorage offshore, which was a primary factor in Alexander the Great’s decision to select the site for his new city and naval base in 332 BCE.1
- Harbor Formation: The island’s proximity to the mainland allowed for the creation of two distinct, curved bays that serve as the basins for the city's Eastern and Western Harbors.2
- The Heptastadion: Shortly after the city's founding, a mole known as the Heptastadion was constructed to link the island to the mainland. This structure effectively transformed the coastline, creating an hourglass-shaped promontory that defined the harbor basins.2
- Navigational Aid: The island was the site of the Lighthouse of Alexandria, the first lighthouse in the world. Completed around 280 BCE, this technological triumph provided a vital beacon for sailors, significantly enhancing the safety and utility of the port for maritime trade.34