Kingston Harbour
Kingston Harbour | |
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Harbour | |
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Kingston Harbour in
The harbour is home to the Kingston Container Terminal, Jamaica's largest port. Other docks on Kingston Harbour are at the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica in downtown Kingston and at the Jamaica Flour Mills and the Caribbean Cement Company at Rockfort. Fresh water, along with industrial and domestic waste, is discharged into Hunts Bay from rivers and drainage gullies, including Rio Cobre and Sandy Gully.
Norman Manley International Airport, Jamaica's second busiest international airport, is also located in the outer harbor, on the Palisadoes strip.
There is a fishing village at Rockfort and fishing docks at Harbour View and at Port Royal.
History
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As a large, natural, well-protected harbour, it was doubtless used by indigenous people, and has been used by Europeans since the very beginning of their exploration and settlement of the island. Initially the main settlement was at Port Royal but following its destruction in the 1692 earthquake, the English founded Kingston and began development of its waterfront.[3]
Historically, the harbour was safe from attack with its narrow entrance being protected by two forts, one the tip of the Palisadoes at Port Royal and the other on a small sand spit opposite.[3]
Throughout the 18th and early 19th centuries it handled a large local trade and was the chief
In 1720 the body of
Pollution
In modern times Kingston Harbour has suffered a number of pollution incidents. In one such during 2009, 300 tons of sulphuric acid are said to have been accidentally discharged from one of the wharves.[4]
Gallery
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Kingston Harbour ca. 1782 -
Kingston Harbour ca. 1806 -
Kingston Harbour c1870 -
A yacht in the harbour entrance ca. 1834 -
Yachts racing in the harbour in 2005 -
A view of Kingston Harbour View from Palisadoes
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See also
References
- ^ a b c d "History". Kingston, Jamaica: Port Authority of Jamaica. 2006. Retrieved 8 October 2009.
- ^ Reference: UK Directorate of Overseas Surveys 1:50,000 map of Jamaica sheet L, 1967.
- ^ Longmans, Green and Co Ltd. pp. 53–54.
- ^ "Sulphuric Acid Spill in Kingston Harbour". Kingston, Jamaica: Jamaica Information Service. 12 September 2009. Archived from the original on 19 November 2009. Retrieved 7 October 2009.
External links
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