Harbor

For information about compiler for the Clipper programming language see Harbour compiler

A harbor or harbour (see spelling differences), or haven, is a place where ships may shelter from the weather or are stored. Harbors can be man-made or natural. A man-made harbor will have sea walls or breakwaters and may require dredging. A natural harbor is surrounded on most sides by land.

Harbors and ports are often confused. A port is a man-made coastal or riverine facility where boats and ships can load and unload. It may consist of quays, wharfs, jetties, piers and slipways with cranes or ramps. A port may have magazine buildings or warehouses for storage of goods and a transport system, such as railway, road transport or pipeline transport facilities for relaying goods inland.

During the D-Day operations of 1944, two artificial harbors (codenamed Mulberry) were built just off the invasion beaches.

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Natural harbors

A natural harbor is a landform where a body of water forms a harbor. Natural harbors have long been of great strategic and economic importance. Many of the great cities of the world are located on a natural harbor.

Ice-free harbors

Main article: Ice-free port

For harbors near the poles, being ice-free is an important advantage, ideally all-year round. Examples are Murmansk (Russia), Petsamo (Russia, formerly Finland), Hammerfest, Vardø, and Prince Rupert or Halifax (Canada).

Notable harbors

The following places are large natural harbors:

Artificial harbors are frequently built for use as ports. The largest artificially created harbor is located in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Other notable harbors include:

See also


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It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Harbor".