Harbours and Estuaries
The Solent forms the largest estuarine system of the south coast of the UK. The components of this system include the West and East Solent and their approaches, the Eastern harbours of Portsmouth, Langstone and Chichester, Southampton Water and other small tributary rivers such as the River Beaulieu, Lymington and the Yar.
Southampton Water is the stretch of the sea north of the Solent, with the city of Southampton lying at its head. Along its saltmarsh-fringed western shores lie New Forest villages and the Esso oil refinery at Fawley. On the slightly steeper eastern shore are Southampton suburbs, the villages of Netley and Hamble-le-Rice, Royal Victoria Country Park and the mouth of the River Hamble.
Find out more about the Solent's harbours and estuaries:
