Balaclava Bay facts for kids
Balaclava Bay is a small bay located in Dorset, southern England. It sits at the northern tip of the Isle of Portland, right next to Portland Harbour. This beautiful bay is part of the famous Jurassic Coast, which is a special World Heritage Site. Above the bay, you can see the old East Weare Battery. This fort was built in the 1860s to protect the harbour. A road inside Portland Port's dockyard is even named Balaclava Road.
About Balaclava Bay
This bay was formed a long time ago, during the Victorian era. It was created when the inner breakwater of Portland Harbour was built. The bay is inside the area of Portland Port. People often visit it using kayaks and boats. It's also a popular spot for divers. There's even an old sunken ship, called the Dredger, resting peacefully in the calm waters of the bay.
Plans for a Power Station
In 2010, there were plans to build a power station at Portland Port, right near Balaclava Bay. This power station would have made electricity by burning palm oil from Indonesia. Many local people were worried about this plan. They formed a group called "No Oil Palm Energy" (NOPE) to protest against it. The company planning the station, W4B, was not able to get enough money for the project. So, the power station was never built.
World War II Defenses
During World War II, Balaclava Bay was an important place for defense. Between 1940 and 1941, several structures were put in place to protect against invaders.
- Underwater Obstacles: Large stone boulders were placed in the water offshore. These were meant to stop enemy boats from landing.
- Land Mines: A minefield was set up on the shore. These mines were part of the defenses for the Dorset coast and the Isle of Portland. Luckily, they were all removed by 1946.
- Searchlights: Two special searchlights were built nearby. These lights helped spot any enemy ships or submarines trying to approach the coast at night.
