Portland, Isle of

Portland, Isle of

      craggy peninsula of the English Channel coast, in the county of Dorset, England. Its greatest length is 4 miles (6 km) and it has a width of 1.75 miles. The peninsula is connected to the mainland by Chesil Beach, an unbroken shingle ridge about 30 feet (9 metres) high and 600 feet (180 metres) wide, stretching 10 miles (16 km) west as far as Abbotsbury. The island's precipitous shores render it virtually inaccessible from the sea, except toward the south. Its highest point is Verne Hill (490 feet). At its southern tip, the Bill of Portland, there are storm-worn caves, a raised beach, and the Pulpit Rock.

      The peninsula is a royal manor whose Court Leet (a medieval legal entity) still functions. Portland Castle, built by Henry VIII in 1520, is open to the public. The remains of the Norman Bow and Arrow Fortress (Rufus Castle) stand in the grounds of Pennsylvania Castle, which was built about 1800. There is a prison (Verne Prison) and an institution for youthful offenders. The breakwaters, constructed by convict labour, were started by the Admiralty in 1847–62; two more were added after 1895. The completely enclosed harbour covers 2,233 acres (904 hectares). After World War II an additional naval establishment was built toward the Bill of Portland. Area 4.5 square miles (11 square km). Pop. (2001) 12,780.

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  • PORTLAND, ISLE OF —    a rocky peninsula in the SW. of Dorsetshire, connected by Chesil Bank and the Mainland; is famous as the source of great quantities of fine building limestone; here is also a convict prison opened 1848, accommodating 1500 prisoners …   The Nuttall Encyclopaedia

  • Portland [2] — Portland (Isle of P., spr. ail ŏw pōrtlānd), eine Halbinsel von Dorsetshire (England), hängt durch die 15 km lange Chesilbank, eine kiesige Nehrung, mit dem Festland zusammen, ist 7 km lang, 2,8 km breit. bis 140 m hoch und endet im sogen. Bill… …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Portland — Portland, Isle of P. (spr. eil ŏf pohrtländ), Halbinsel der engl. Grafsch Dorset, (1901) 15.262 E.; 2 Leuchttürme; Ausfuhr berühmter Bausteine;: Reede (2745 ha) zwischen P. und Weymouth; befestigt …   Kleines Konversations-Lexikon

  • Portland-Stein — Banqueting House aus Portland Stein Portland Stein ist ein Kalkstein aus dem Jura. Abgebaut wird er in Steinbrüchen auf der Isle of Portland. Das Gestein wurde meist in Großbritannien, vor allem nach dem großen Brand in London für den… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Portland — has many meanings. It is the name of numerous cities, the largest of which is Portland, Oregon, in the United States. The name originated with the Isle of Portland, in Dorset, United Kingdom. It applies to people, buildings, passenger trains,… …   Wikipedia

  • Isle of Portland — Chesil Beach vom Hügel über Fortuneswell fotografiert, Portland Harbour auf der rechten Seite Gewässer Ärmelkanal …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Isle of Purbeck — Fishermans ledge in Purbeck Gewässer Ärmelkanal …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Portland Castle — is one of the Device Forts built in 1539 by Henry VIII on the Isle of Portland to guard the natural Portland anchorage known as the Portland Roads. The castle lies in the far north of the island, in the village now called Castletown, near… …   Wikipedia

  • Portland Harbour — is located beside the Isle of Portland, off Dorset, on the south coast of England. It is one of the largest man made harbours in the world. Grid reference: mmukscaled|SY685765|100|SY 685 765.The original harbour was formed by the protection… …   Wikipedia

  • Portland — ist der Name folgender Orte: Vereinigte Staaten: Portland (Oregon), Großstadt Portland (Arkansas) Portland (Connecticut) Portland (Indiana) Portland (Iowa) Portland (Maine) Portland (Michigan) Portland (New York) Portland (North Dakota) Portland… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

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