Dock facts for kids

A dock is a special place built next to water, like a river, lake, or ocean. It's where boats and ships can safely tie up. Think of it as a parking spot for water vehicles! Docks are often supported by strong poles called pilings. These pilings are usually pushed deep into the ground under the water. Docks make it easy for people and goods to get on and off boats.

Why Are Docks Important?

Docks are super important for many reasons. They help boats stay still and safe, especially during loading and unloading. Without docks, it would be very hard for people to get on and off ships. It would also be tough to move cargo like food, cars, or other supplies.

Docks are like busy hubs. They connect land transportation, like trucks and trains, with water transportation. This makes global trade possible. Many cities around the world grew because they had good docks and ports.

Different Kinds of Docks

There are several types of docks, each designed for a specific purpose.

Piers and Wharves

• A pier is a long structure built out into the water. It's often supported by many pilings. Boats can usually tie up on both sides of a pier. Piers are great for cruise ships or ferries.
• A wharf is a structure built parallel to the shoreline. Boats usually tie up on only one side. Wharves are common in busy ports where many cargo ships need to load and unload.

Floating Docks

A floating dock is a type of dock that floats on the water's surface. It rises and falls with the water level. This is very useful in places where the tide changes a lot. Boats can always stay at the same height as the dock. These docks are often used for smaller boats, like those in marinas.

Dry Docks

A dry dock is a special kind of dock used to repair or build ships. It's like a giant bathtub that can be drained of water. A ship floats into the dry dock, and then the water is pumped out. This leaves the ship sitting on blocks, allowing workers to access its bottom. This is where they can clean, paint, or fix parts of the ship that are normally underwater.

Wet Docks

A wet dock is an enclosed area of water within a port. It has gates that can be closed to keep the water level constant. This protects ships from strong tides or waves. Wet docks are often used for loading and unloading cargo, especially in places with big tidal changes.

How Docks Are Built

Building a dock is a big engineering project. Engineers and construction workers use strong materials like concrete, steel, and wood. The most important part is often the foundation.

Pilings

Many docks stand on pilings. These are long, strong poles driven deep into the seabed or riverbed. They act like legs, holding the dock firmly in place. Pilings must be very strong to support the weight of the dock, people, and cargo. They also need to withstand strong currents and storms.

Images for kids

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  Dock for cruise ships in St Maarten in the Caribbean.

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  Docks in St. Petersburg, Russia.

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  Partially backfilled dry dock of the former Valmet Vuosaari Shipyard in Vuosaari, Helsinki, Finland.

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  A small dry dock in Gloucester, England

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  A boat dock on Lake Michigan in Chicago.

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  Docks along San Francisco Bay in Tiburon, California

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  Floating dock at Mohonk Mountain House

See also

In Spanish: Dársena para niños