harbour X port

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katerina.pata

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Dear teachers
please, can you explain the difference between the following words:
harbour and port.
Thank you very much. KP
 

Barb_D

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A port has built structures in it to make it easier for ships to berth, unload and load cargo, debark and embark passengers etc.

A harbor refers to the geographical nature of a protected area (usually) with water deep enough to accommodate ships.

You can have a natural harbor. You can't have a natural port.
 

katerina.pata

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Thanks a lot Barb_D!
 

BobK

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A port has built structures in it to make it easier for ships to berth, unload and load cargo, debark and embark passengers etc.

A harbor refers to the geographical nature of a protected area (usually) with water deep enough to accommodate ships.

You can have a natural harbor. You can't have a natural port.

:up: (But of course people tend to build ports where the conditions are suitable. France has Le Havre and Portugal has O Porto; and I don't imagine the people who first named them were too concerned at the amount of construction work involved!)

b

PS Maybe this calls for more research. Perhaps O Porto does have less going for it (in terms of natural 'harbour-like-ness') than Le Havre. Hmm...
 
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