Harbors are protected bodies of water used as a refuge for boats. They can be natural or man-made and are often combined with ports, which provide facilities for loading and unloading cargo. Ports are closely controlled by nations and often patrolled by law enforcement.
A harbor is a protected body of water that can be used as a refuge for boats. Many major cities are located near large natural harbors, as a port can provide a connection to international trade and shipping. Both natural and man-made harbors can be found all over the world, from tiny coves that are little more than havens from bad weather to bustling harbours. In some English-speaking nations, the word is spelled “port.”
Ports are divided into two basic types. Natural harbors are geological features created by the landscape. A natural harbor can be quite large or small enough to fit a few ships taking shelter from a storm. San Francisco Bay in California is a well-known example of a natural harbor. Man-made harbors are created through the use of piers, wharves, and other man-made features, and can also be dredged to allow larger ships to pass through. The port of Trondheim in Norway is a large artificial harbour.
A large port is often combined with a port, a facility that allows ships to load and unload cargo. A port generally also includes support for ships, including repair areas, stores for provisioning and storage of ships, and similar facilities. Ships often require a range of services when they dock, and a variety of companies offer those services, sometimes at a steep price in obscure ports.
Since a port has traditionally been used as a haven or refuge, the verb form of the word is used to refer to sheltering or protecting people as well as ships. A ship usually has extensive details on regional ports in the form of a directory that allows you to find shelter and necessary facilities. Ship’s charts also include port information, with a basic chart simply noting the location of a port, along with its depth, so that a captain can determine if he or she can enter that port. Longer tables may include the type of facilities available and other information of interest.
Since a port is very important economically, most nations closely control their ports. Many largely landlocked nations also secure small areas of coastline so that they can engage in shipping and trade, as numerous products continue to be transported by ship. Ports are often patrolled by special law enforcement to enforce existing laws, and ship traffic is carefully monitored to make sure restricted items or people do not leave or enter a country.
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