Menu
Home
People
Places
Arts
History
Plants & Animals
Science
Life & Culture
Technology
Reference.org
Cherbourg Harbour
open-in-new
<p><a href="https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Cherbourg_Harbour¶ms=49.659072_N_1.611729_W_type:waterbody">49°39′33″N 1°36′42″W / 49.659072°N 1.611729°W / 49.659072; -1.611729</a> </p> <p>Cherbourg Harbour (French: <i>rade de Cherbourg</i>; literally, the "<a href="/facts/Roadstead/JfTJuqwS">roadstead</a> of <a href="/facts/Cherbourg/45qyTgh0">Cherbourg</a>") is a harbour situated at the northern end of the <a href="/facts/Cotentin_Peninsula/pdfFTU4Y">Cotentin Peninsula</a>, on the <a href="/facts/English_Channel/UPjaSEXf">English Channel</a> coastline, in <a href="/facts/Normandy/0NfFuSct">Normandy</a>, northwestern <a href="/facts/France/CxIeIKM3">France</a>. With a surface area of 1,500 hectares, it is the second largest artificial harbour in the world, after the 4,500 hectare <a href="/facts/Ras_Laffan_Industrial_City/QXmuawAS">Ras Laffan Harbour</a> in Qatar. As well as <a href="/facts/Cherbourg_Naval_Base/Ej9Lrtbn">Cherbourg Naval Base</a>, it has been used for mercantile shipping. </p><p>It was begun in 1783, with its central harbour <a href="/facts/Breakwater_(structure)/gHBSWptv">breakwater</a> completed in 1853 – this was 3.64 km long, an average of 100 m wide at its base and an average of 12 m wide at its top, and sited 4 km from the coast. Three forts were added to its central wall in 1860. This and the two other breakwaters stretch for more than 6 km. The eastern opening into the harbour is 950 m wide and the western one 2.3 km wide. The harbour's maximum depth is 13 m at low tide. </p>