Editing Wisbech (section)

=== Waterways ===
{{see also|Port of Wisbech}}
Wisbech sits on either side of the [[River Nene]],<ref>{{cite book|title=Fenland River: The Story of the Great Ouse and its Tributaries|author=Rodney Tibbs|publisher=Terence Dalton Ltd|year=1969}}</ref> and its port is Cambridgeshire's only gateway to the sea.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fenland.gov.uk/wisbechportandyachtharbour|title=Yacht Harbour and Wisbech Port|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom|access-date=18 August 2018|date=27 November 2014}}</ref> Schemes to connect the River Nene and the River Welland are proposed, allowing boats a fresh-water connection.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Boston to Peterborough Wetland Corridor |url=https://waterways.org.uk/waterways/discover-the-waterways/boston-to-peterborough-wetland-corridor |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=Inland Waterways |language=en-GB}}</ref> In the past, the [[Port of Wisbech]] could accommodate sailing ships of 400 tons, but its prosperity declined after 1852 when extensive river works impeded navigation.<ref>{{cite book |title=Victorian & Edwardian Cambridgeshire |author= F. A. Reeve |publisher= Batsford | year= 1976}}</ref> In the previous decade it had been described as England's most important port for the export of wheat.<ref>{{cite news|title= The New Museum|newspaper= Cambridge Chronicle and Journal |date= 28 August 1847|page= 2}}</ref> It had in its day been referred to as 'the Milch cow of the corporation'.<ref>{{cite news|title= Wisbech Corporation Annual Frolic|newspaper= Cambridge Independent Press |date= 18 August 1855|page= 7}}</ref>
Now, a river-side yacht harbour provides 128 berths for vessels, and Crab Marshboat yard operates a 75-tonne boat lift. Following the 1978 flood, in which one resident drowned, flood walls and flood gates were erected and in later years built higher.<ref>{{cite journal|journal= The Fens|page= 20|title= Highs and Lows|first= Garry|last= Monger|year= 2022|issue= 52}}</ref> In December 2013, the town's river flood defences were tested when an unusually high tide threatened to top the recently improved walls and flood gates.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3773390|title=Mud from the flood|website=geograph.org.uk|access-date=25 August 2019}}</ref>