Harbor

A natural harbor is usually located in a bay or estuary of a water body, usable due to the existing natural geological and hydrological conditions roadstead or port facility for ships to a larger river or sea.

From a natural harbor is used in particular when the need for a port function is present at a suitable location. Through their occurrences with an enclosed water area located bays offer due protection for the anchor and mooring of vessels from the heavy waves, but also the flow conditions of the water and especially the depth of water must meet the requirements for use by shipping at low tide.

Particularly by the presence of a natural harbor basin, the term is claimed worldwide for port facilities. However, many place names with the epithet natural harbor refer to the original budget by protecting it from the weather and water conditions situation. The epithet natural harbor does not provide information about necessary structural measures, technical equipment and alterations to the existing natural to actual usability as a port.

Historical Significance

Prior to the establishment built port facilities were mainly so-called " ship transhipment sites " where the ships simply aufliefen on the edge of the bank, as the landing places of vessel traffic, as in the case Haitabus. The suitable sites were developed in the course of using frequently and later developed into residential and commercial centers. Homer describes in the Odyssey suitable natural harbor facilities and Thucydides emphasized their importance in the establishment of Piraeus by Themistocles. During the colonial period natural harbors were frequently decisive criteria for the establishment of settlements and bases.

Even after the ancient times, the presence of natural harbors until the age of industrialization often played a decisive role in the establishment of settlements. The 1523 expelled from the island of Rhodes, Order of St. John by Charles V was the island of Malta (including Gozo and Comino ) passed in 1530, for example, as a fief. Due to the selection of this group of islands was in addition to the strategic location, the presence of two large natural harbors on the east coast of the island of Malta. Immediately at the Grand Harbour emerged then within a few years the cities of Senglea and Valletta.

From a military point of view offered natural harbors until the 20th century, the only way to temporary or permanent stationing of larger fleets, which could include several hundred ships. Examples are the use of Marsaxlokk Bay and the Marsamxett Harbour by the Ottoman fleet during the Siege of Malta, the stationing of the British Home Fleet at Scapa Flow in the First and Second World Wars and the American Pacific fleet at Pearl Harbor from 1898.

Examples of important natural harbors

• Gdańsk Bay: large natural harbor in the Baltic Sea
• Port Jackson in Sydney: Australian large natural harbor
• Kaipara Harbour: large natural harbor in New Zealand
• Lisbon Tagus: large natural harbor on the Atlantic
• Port Mahon: large natural harbor in the Mediterranean
• New York Harbor with the center in the Upper New York Bay Hudson River ( Atlantic / North America )
• Poole Harbour: great English natural harbor on the English Channel
• Bay of San Francisco: large natural harbor on the Pacific
• Port Freetown in Sierra Leone