Portland Harbour

50.58738 - 2.44632Koordinaten: 50 ° 35 ' 15 " N, 2 ° 26' 47 " W

Portland Harbour is located on the Isle of Portland in Dorset on England's south coast. Portland Harbour is 8.6 km ² one of the largest built by people anchorages and ports in the world.

The basis of the port is the protected anchorage, which is formed by Chesil Beach and the Isle of Portland. This bay was protection from the weather for ships except in an easterly direction. King Henry VIII built Portland Castle and Sand Foot Castle at this anchorage to protect.

The construction of today's port began in 1849, when the Royal Navy began a breakwater at the southern end of the anchorage with reclaimed on the Isle of Portland stone to build. This design protects the anchorage against weather influences from the southwest. The construction was completed in 1872 and included two fortifications on the wall, as Verne Citadel Fort, Nothe Fort, East Wear Battery, High Angle Battery. The construction of these fortifications was part of the recommendations of the Royal Commission on the Defence of the United Kingdom and that they rank amongst the Palmerston continued

1906 two more breakwaters were built against the threat of torpedo attacks from the east. A further obstacle to attack by U- boats was created in 1914 when the HMS Hood was sunk in the southern harbor entrance. The HMS Hood is now considered too dangerous for divers but the other five other sunken ships in the harbor area are accessible to divers.

Scuba diving is next to windsurfing and sailing a popular sport in the harbor, which was sold in 1996 by the Royal Navy. In addition to the marina, a commercial port operation of the Portland Port Ltd and Portland Harbour Authority Limited is operated. Cruise ships coming into port, so that the passengers can visit Dorset from here. The port is also the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, the 2012 has aligned the sailing competitions of the Olympic Games is.