Tel Aviv is the pulse of Israel, the center of economy, business, culture, and cuisine. This cosmopolitan city on the Mediterranean has sandy beaches, fine restaurants and nightlife, and an exhilarating art scene. With one-third of Israel's population, approximately 2 million, it is no wonder that the residents call it the city that never stops. Sidewalk cafés are everywhere, with Mediterranean-style buildings and skyscrapers sharing Tel Aviv's 138-square-km area. The city rose from the sand dunes less than a century ago and was named Tel Aviv in 1909. Today it is inhabited by a diverse population, including those of Jewish, Arabic, African, Polish, and German decent, that has created a dynamic cultural and social mixture.