Editing Portsmouth (section)

== Geography ==

[[File:Aerial photograph of Portsmouth Dockyard taken during a Photex, taken from 2,000 feet. MOD 45144955.jpg|thumb|Aerial view of Portsmouth and Portsmouth Harbour|alt=An aerial view of western side of Portsmouth (including Gunwharf Quays, the dockyard and the Spinnaker tower), the harbour itself, and the town of Gosport]]
[[File:London, Great Britain Population Density and Low Elevation Coastal Zones (5457306673).jpg|thumb|England population density and low elevation coastal zones. Portsmouth is particularly vulnerable to [[sea level rise]].]]
Portsmouth is {{convert|73.5|mi}} by road from central London, {{convert|49.5|mi}} west of [[Brighton]], and {{convert|22.3|mi}} east of [[Southampton]].<ref name="GM">{{Google maps|url =https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Portsmouth,+UK/London/@51.1511947,-1.2804238,154981m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m13!4m12!1m5!1m1!1s0x487442a41814f1e9:0x45b683ea03373b79!2m2!1d-1.0879769!2d50.8197675!1m5!1m1!1s0x47d8a00baf21de75:0x52963a5addd52a99!2m2!1d-0.1277583!2d51.5073509 |access-date=1 October 2016}}</ref> It is located primarily on [[Portsea Island]] and is the United Kingdom's only island city, although the city has expanded to the mainland.{{sfn|Hewitt|2013|pp=14, 16}} [[Gosport]] is a town and borough to the west.<ref name="GM"/> Portsea Island is separated from the mainland by [[Portsbridge Creek]],{{sfn|Vine|1990}}{{page needed|date=May 2020}} which is crossed by three road bridges (the [[M275 motorway]], the [[A3 road]], and the [[A2030 road]]), a railway bridge, and two footbridges.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ports Bridge, Portsmouth information |url=http://www.envf.port.ac.uk/hantsgaz/hantsgaz/s0005406.htm |publisher=Old Hampshire Gazetteer |access-date=25 July 2016}}</ref> Portsea Island, part of the [[Hampshire Basin]],<ref>Melville, R.V. & Freshney E.C. (4th Ed 1982), ''The Hampshire Basin and adjoining areas'', British Regional Geology series, Institute of Geological Sciences, London: [[HMSO]]</ref> is low-lying; most of the island is less than {{convert|3|metres}} [[Height above sea level|above sea level]].<ref name="rising">{{cite web|title=Landscape Character Assessment – Portsea Island Coastal Defence Flood Risk Areas |url=https://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/ext/documents-external/dev-seafront-masterplan-portseaisland-landscape-character-assessment.pdf |publisher=Portsmouth City Council |access-date=12 August 2016 |archive-date=26 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160826024358/https://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/ext/documents-external/dev-seafront-masterplan-portseaisland-landscape-character-assessment.pdf |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.buildingfutures.org.uk/assets/downloads/Facing_Up_To_Rising_Sea_Levels.pdf |title=Rising Sea Levels: Case Study – Portsmouth (see page 13) |publisher=Building Futures |access-date=1 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304203928/http://www.buildingfutures.org.uk/assets/downloads/Facing_Up_To_Rising_Sea_Levels.pdf |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The island's highest natural elevation is the Kingston Cross road junction, at {{convert|21|ft}} above ordinary spring tide.<ref name="highpoint">{{cite web|url=https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/lifestyle/heritage/the-high-point-of-my-childhood-1-4676993 |title=The high point of my childhood |website=The News |last1=Hind |first1=Bob |access-date=6 October 2019 |archive-date=6 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191006050819/https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/lifestyle/heritage/the-high-point-of-my-childhood-1-4676993 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[Old Portsmouth]], the original town, is in the south-west part of the island and includes [[Portsmouth Point]] (nicknamed Spice Island).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portsmouth-guide.co.uk/local/old-port.htm |title=Spice island gates |publisher=Portsmouth City Council |access-date=8 March 2011}}</ref> The main channel entering Portsmouth Harbour, west of the island,{{sfn|Vine|1990}}{{page needed|date=May 2020}} passes between Old Portsmouth and Gosport.<ref name="GM"/> Portsmouth Harbour has a series of lakes, including Fountain Lake (near the commercial port), Portchester Lake (south central), Paulsgrove Lake (north), Brick Kiln Lake and Tipner (east), and Bombketch and Spider Lakes (west). Further northwest, around Portchester, are Wicor, Cams, and Great Cams Lakes.<ref name="GM"/> The large tidal inlet of [[Langstone Harbour]] is east of the island. The [[Farlington Marshes]], in the north off the coast of [[Farlington, Hampshire|Farlington]], is a {{convert|125|ha|acre|abbr=off}} [[grazing marsh]] and saline lagoon. One of the oldest [[Local nature reserve|local reserves]] in the county, built from reclaimed land in 1771, it provides a habitat for migratory wildfowl and [[wader]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.visitportsmouth.co.uk/things-to-do/farlington-marshes-wildlife-reserve-p60153 |title=Farlington Marshes Wildlife Reserve |website=Visit Portsmouth |publisher=Portsmouth City Council |access-date=1 October 2016}}</ref>

[[File:SelseyHaylingPortsea.JPG|thumb|left|Portsea Island and Hayling Island|upright|alt=A high aerial view of Portsea Island (the island which Portsmouth is situated on), and neighbouring Hayling Island]]

South of Portsmouth are [[Spithead]], the [[Solent]], and the [[Isle of Wight]]. Its southern coast was fortified by the [[Round Tower (Portsmouth)|Round Tower]], the [[Square Tower]], Southsea Castle, [[Lumps Fort]] and [[Fort Cumberland (England)|Fort Cumberland]].{{sfn|Patterson|1985}}{{page needed|date=May 2020}} Four sea forts were built in the Solent by [[Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston|Lord Palmerston]]: [[Spitbank Fort]], [[St Helens Fort]], [[Horse Sand Fort]] and [[No Man's Land Fort]].

The resort of [[Southsea]] is on the central southern shoreline of Portsea Island,<ref name="pissea">{{cite web |title=A History of Southsea |url=http://www.localhistories.org/southsea.html |publisher=Local History |access-date=25 July 2016}}</ref> and [[Eastney]] is east.<ref name="eastney">{{cite web |title=History of Eastney |url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/20909 |website=A Vision of Britain Through Time |publisher=University of Portsmouth |access-date=25 July 2016}}</ref> Eastney Lake covered nearly {{convert|170|acres|abbr=off}} in 1626.{{sfn|Webb|1989|p=11}} North of Eastney is the residential [[Milton, Portsmouth|Milton]] and an area of reclaimed land known as Milton Common (formerly Milton Lake),<ref name="GM"/> a "flat scrubby land with a series of freshwater lakes".{{sfn|Long|2007|p=188}} Further north on the east coast is [[Baffins]], with the Great Salterns recreation ground and golf course around [[Portsmouth College]].<ref name="GM"/>

The [[Hilsea Lines]] are a series of defunct fortifications on the island's north coast, bordering Portsbridge Creek and the mainland.{{sfn|Hewitt|2013|p=80}}{{sfn|Mitchell|1988}}{{page needed|date=May 2020}} [[Portsdown Hill]] dominates the skyline in the north, and contains several large [[Palmerston Forts, Portsmouth|Palmerston Forts]]{{efn|These were part of a network of fortifications intended to guard military bases on the British coastline from an inland attack. They were built in the 19th century by order of Lord Palmerston.{{sfn|Hewitt|2013|p=79}}}} such as [[Fort Fareham]], [[Fort Wallington]], [[Fort Nelson, Hampshire|Fort Nelson]], [[Fort Southwick]], [[Fort Widley]], and [[Fort Purbrook]].{{sfn|Patterson|1985}}{{page needed|date=May 2020}}{{sfn|Hewitt|2013|pp=79, 80}} Portsdown Hill is a large band of [[chalk]]; the rest of Portsea Island is composed of layers of [[London Clay]] and [[sand]] (part of the [[Bagshot Formation]]), formed principally during the [[Eocene]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.southampton.ac.uk/~imw/Solent-Introduction.htm |title=Solent Geology |publisher=University of Southampton |last1=West |first1=Ian |access-date=1 April 2015}}</ref>

Northern areas of the city include [[Stamshaw]], [[Hilsea]] and [[Copnor]], [[Cosham]], [[Drayton, Hampshire|Drayton]], [[Farlington, Hampshire|Farlington]], Paulsgrove and [[Port Solent]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Electoral areas in Portsmouth |url=https://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/ext/the-council/voting-and-elections/electoral-areas-in-portsmouth.aspx |publisher=Portsmouth City Council |access-date=25 July 2016 |archive-date=12 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160812035408/https://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/ext/the-council/voting-and-elections/electoral-areas-in-portsmouth.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref> Other districts include [[North End, Hampshire|North End]] and Fratton.<ref>{{cite web |title=A History of North End |url=http://www.localhistories.org/northend.html |publisher=Local Histories |access-date=25 July 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=A History of Fratton |url=http://www.localhistories.org/fratton.html |publisher=Local Histories |access-date=25 July 2016}}</ref> The west of the city contains [[Public housing in the United Kingdom|council estates]], such as [[Buckland, Portsmouth|Buckland]], [[Landport]], and Portsea, which replaced Victorian terraces destroyed by Second World War bombing.<ref name="history2"/> After the war, the {{convert|2000|acre|adj=on}} [[Leigh Park]] estate was built to address the chronic housing shortage during post-war reconstruction.{{sfn|Hewitt|2013|p=160}} Although the estate has been under the jurisdiction of [[Borough of Havant|Havant Borough Council]] since the early 2000s, Portsmouth City Council remains its landlord (the borough's largest landowner).<ref name="Leigh Park history"/>

The city's main station, [[Portsmouth and Southsea railway station]],<ref>{{cite web |title=History in Portsmouth: Southsea Railway Line |url=http://historyinportsmouth.co.uk/places/southsea-railway.htm |website=History in Portsmouth |publisher=University of Portsmouth |access-date=25 July 2016}}</ref> is in the city centre near the [[Portsmouth Guildhall|Guildhall]] and the [[Portsmouth Civic Offices|Civic Offices]].<ref name="guild"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Getting Here – Portsmouth Guildhall |url=http://www.portsmouthguildhall.org.uk/your-visit/getting-here |website=Portsmouth Guildhall |publisher=Portsmouth City Council |access-date=12 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160409112701/http://www.portsmouthguildhall.org.uk/your-visit/getting-here |archive-date=9 April 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> South of the Guildhall is Guildhall Walk, with a number of pubs and clubs.<ref>{{cite web |title=Portsmouth's Guildhall Walk among 'violent' streets |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-12332347 |work=BBC News |access-date=25 July 2016 |date=1 February 2011}}</ref> The city's other railway station, [[Portsmouth Harbour railway station]], is located on a pier at the harbour's edge, near Old Portsmouth.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thetrainline.com/stations/portsmouth-harbour |title=Portsmouth Harbour station |publisher=The Train Line |access-date=9 May 2022}}</ref> Edinburgh Road contains the city's Roman Catholic cathedral and [[Victoria Park, Portsmouth|Victoria Park]], a {{convert|15|acre|adj=on}} park which opened in 1878.<ref name="vic">{{cite web|title=Victoria Park history |url=http://www.welcometoportsmouth.co.uk/victoria%20park%20portsmouth.html |website=Welcome to Portsmouth |publisher=Portsmouth City Council |access-date=25 July 2016}}</ref>

{{wide image|Portsmouth panorama from Portsdown Hill.jpg|2000px|align-cap=center|alt=See caption|South-facing panorama of Portsmouth from [[Portsdown Hill]]. [[Langstone Harbour]] and [[Hayling Island]] are on the left, and Portsmouth Harbour is on the right.}}

{{Geographic Location
| title     = '''Neighbouring towns, villages, and places'''
| Northwest = [[Portchester]]
| North     = [[Waterlooville]]
| Northeast = [[Havant]]
| West      = [[Portsmouth Harbour]], [[Gosport]]
| Centre    = Portsmouth
| East      = [[Langstone Harbour]], [[Hayling Island]]
| Southwest = The [[Solent]], [[Isle of Wight]]
| South     = [[Isle of Wight]], [[Spithead]], [[English Channel]]
| Southeast = [[English Channel]]
}}

=== Climate ===

Portsmouth has a mild [[oceanic climate]], with more sunshine than most of the British Isles.<ref>{{cite web |title=GCSE Bitesize: UK climate |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/geography/weather_climate/climate_rev4.shtml |website=BBC Bitesize |publisher=BBC |access-date=12 August 2016}}</ref> Frosts are light and short-lived and snow is quite rare in winter, with temperatures rarely dropping below freezing.<ref name="rising"/> The average maximum temperature in January is {{convert|10|°C|0|abbr=on}}, and the average minimum is {{convert|5|°C|0|abbr=on}}. The lowest recorded temperature is {{convert|-8|°C|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name=metextreme>{{cite web|url=http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/se/portsmouth_forecast_temp.html |title=Portsmouth record temperatures |publisher=Metoffice.gov.uk |date=19 November 2008 |access-date=8 March 2011}}</ref> In summer, temperatures sometimes reach {{convert|30|°C|0|abbr=on}}. The average maximum temperature in July is {{convert|22|°C|0|abbr=on}}, and the average minimum is {{convert|15|°C|0|abbr=on}}. The highest recorded temperature is {{convert|35|°C|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name=metextreme/> The city gets about {{convert|645|mm|in}} of rain annually, with a minimum of {{convert|1|mm|2|abbr=on}} of rain reported 103 days per year.<ref name="weather">{{cite web|url=http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/climate/gcp0zn6wn |title=Portsmouth Climate, Met Office |access-date=1 April 2015}}</ref>

{{Weather box|width=auto
|metric first=y
|single line=y 
|collapsed = Y
|location =  [[Thorney Island (West Sussex)|Thorney Island]],{{efn|Weather station is located {{convert|8.0|mi|1|abbr=out}} from the Portsmouth city centre.}} (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1957–present)
|Jan record high C = 13.6
|Feb record high C = 15.8
|Mar record high C = 20.7
|Apr record high C = 24.2
|May record high C = 27.2
|Jun record high C = 34.1
|Jul record high C = 34.1
|Aug record high C = 33.3
|Sep record high C = 29.0
|Oct record high C = 25.2
|Nov record high C = 17.9
|Dec record high C = 14.9
|Jan record low C = -9.2
|Feb record low C = -7.0
|Mar record low C = -6.9
|Apr record low C = -3.8
|May record low C = -1.6
|Jun record low C = 1.4
|Jul record low C = 6.0
|Aug record low C = 3.6
|Sep record low C = 2.2
|Oct record low C = -2.8
|Nov record low C = -6.3
|Dec record low C = -8.7
|Jan high C = 8.3
|Feb high C = 8.6
|Mar high C = 11.0
|Apr high C = 13.7
|May high C = 16.7
|Jun high C = 19.7
|Jul high C = 21.8
|Aug high C = 21.8
|Sep high C = 19.4
|Oct high C = 15.6
|Nov high C = 11.7
|Dec high C = 9.0
| year high C = 14.8
|Jan mean C = 5.6
|Feb mean C = 5.7
|Mar mean C = 7.5
|Apr mean C = 9.7
|May mean C = 12.7
|Jun mean C = 15.7
|Jul mean C = 17.7
|Aug mean C = 17.8
|Sep mean C = 15.5
|Oct mean C = 12.3
|Nov mean C = 8.7
|Dec mean C = 6.2
| year mean C = 
|Jan low C = 2.8
|Feb low C = 2.7
|Mar low C = 4.0
|Apr low C = 5.7
|May low C = 8.7
|Jun low C = 11.6
|Jul low C = 13.6
|Aug low C = 13.7
|Sep low C = 11.5
|Oct low C = 8.9
|Nov low C = 5.6
|Dec low C = 3.3
| year low C = 7.7
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 84.5
|Feb precipitation mm = 57.7
|Mar precipitation mm = 49.9
|Apr precipitation mm = 49.6
|May precipitation mm = 43.3
|Jun precipitation mm = 48.2
|Jul precipitation mm = 46.9
|Aug precipitation mm = 57.2
|Sep precipitation mm = 61.4
|Oct precipitation mm = 86.0
|Nov precipitation mm = 90.6
|Dec precipitation mm = 92.6
|year precipitation mm = 767.7
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 13.0
| Feb precipitation days = 10.1
| Mar precipitation days = 9.2
| Apr precipitation days = 9.1
| May precipitation days = 8.0
| Jun precipitation days = 7.7
| Jul precipitation days = 7.5
| Aug precipitation days = 8.4
| Sep precipitation days = 8.1
| Oct precipitation days = 11.3
| Nov precipitation days = 12.9
| Dec precipitation days = 12.8
| year precipitation days =118.1
|Jan sun = 64.9
|Feb sun = 85.1
|Mar sun = 129.7
|Apr sun = 186.5
|May sun = 221.8
|Jun sun = 217.8
|Jul sun = 232.1
|Aug sun = 213.5
|Sep sun = 163.1
|Oct sun = 118.1
|Nov sun = 78.1
|Dec sun = 61.1
|year sun = 1771.7
| source 1 = [[Met Office]]<ref name="MetOffice">{{cite web
|url = https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/climate/maps-and-data/location-specific-long-term-averages/gcp34fxfu
|title = Station: Thorney Island, Climate period: 1991–2020
|publisher = Met Office
|access-date = 15 December 2024}}</ref>
| source 2 = Starlings Roost Weather<ref>{{cite web |url=http://starlingsroost.ddns.net/weather/ukobs/temp_month_record_tmax_map.php 
|title= Monthly Extreme Maximum Temperature, Monthly Extreme Minimum Temperature
|publisher=Starlings Roost Weather
|access-date= 16 December 2024
}}</ref>
}}