Harbor

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

Low tide in Cwm Harbour, Fishguard, Pembrokeshire, Wales

The tiny harbour at the village of Clovelly, Devon, England

St. John's harbour, Newfoundland

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

Harbours 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.

1 Natural harbours
2 Ice-free harbours
3 Temporary harbours
4 Notable harbours
5 See also

[edit] Natural harbours

A natural harbour is a landform where a part of a body of water is protected and deep enough to furnish anchorage. Natural harbours have long been of great Military strategy and economic importance. Many of the great cities of the world are located on a natural harbour.

[edit] Ice-free harbours

Main article: Ice-free port

For harbours 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 (Canada).

[edit] Temporary harbours

Sometimes a harbour is needed where one isn't available due to damage, such as in times of war. In this case a temporary harbour may be built and transported in pieces to the required location. The most notable of these were the two Mulberry harbours used during the D-Day invasion of Normandy in World War II.