St. George's Harbor, Bermuda

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Parish of St. George's, in 1676. The enclosed harbour to the North-East is St. George's Harbour, that to the South-West is Castle Harbour (originally Southampton Harbour).

St. George's Harbour is a natural harbor in the north of Bermuda. It serves as the port for the town of St. George's and separates St. George's Island in the north and west from St. David's Island in the south and east. sT. George's Harbor is the only port of entry in Bermuda.

It is open to the Atlantic Ocean at Gunner Bay in the northeast, where its mouth is guarded by numerous islands, notably Smith's and Paget Islands. The waters of Bermuda are also protected by coral reef, which can be perilous to sailors. Several other islands lie within the harbor, notably the historically important Ordnance Island. In the south, a long channel, Ferry Reach, links the harbor with another opening to the Atlantic Ocean and the picturesque Castle Harbor.

To enter St. George's Harbor, sailors must fly a yellow quarantine flag, and navigate the ship towards the Customs dock. Boaters who don't bring their vessel through customs will be fined. Before passing through Bermuda customs, visitors must declare all medicines, and cannot bring fruits or vegetables into the country. Animals are only allowed to be brought to Bermuda if they have proof of health and a permit from the Bermuda Department of Environmental Protection.

The shore of St. George's Harbor was the site of the first settlements in Bermuda, which occurred in the early 17th century. The harbor was well fortified during this time, as can be seen in the several forts located nearby and the names of some of the features surrounding it (notably Ordnance Island).