Editing Cork Harbour (section)

==Geography==
The main tributary to the harbour is the [[River Lee]] which, after flowing through [[Cork (city)|Cork city]], passes through the upper harbour ([[Lough Mahon]]) in the northwest before passing to the west of [[Great Island]] with the main channel emerging into the lower harbour past [[Haulbowline|Haulbowline Island]].

For conservation and navigation purposes, the harbour is often separated into "Upper Cork Harbour" (following the River Lee from Cork city to the towns of [[Passage West]] and [[Monkstown, County Cork|Monkstown]]) and "Lower Cork Harbour" (separated from the upper harbour by [[Great Island]]).<ref>{{cite journal | url = http://www.tara.tcd.ie/bitstream/handle/2262/4268/jssisiVolXVIXPart4_4257.pdf | last = Horgan | first = J. J. | title = The Port of Cork | journal = Journal of the Statistical and Social Inquiry Society of Ireland | volume = XVIX | date = 1956 | page = 43}}</ref><ref>{{cite report | url = https://www.npws.ie/sites/default/files/publications/pdf/Cork%20Harbour%20SPA%20(004030)%20Conservation%20objectives%20supporting%20document%20-%20%5BVersion%201%5D.pdf | publisher = National Parks and Wildlife Service | website = npws.ie | title = Cork Harbour Special Protection Area - Conservation Objectives - Version 1 | date = November 2014 | access-date = 9 July 2020 | page = 75 }}</ref>

The depth of the harbour has been measured at between {{Convert|4|fathom|m}} and {{Convert|14|fathom|m}}.{{Sfnp|White|1835|p=192}}

===Islands===
Cork Harbour contains a number of islands of various sizes, some of which are connected to the mainland by bridges. Islands which are or have been inhabited include:
[[File:Cork Harbour RMG K0967.jpg|thumb|Detail of 1780s map showing lower harbour islands (Spike, Haulbowline) and defensive structures (at [[Cove Fort, County Cork|Cove Fort]], [[Fort Davis, County Cork|Fort Carlisle]], Spike, Rams Head, and Roches Tower)]]
* [[Great Island]] – The largest island in Cork Harbour, which includes the town of [[Cobh]]
* [[Fota Island]] – Containing [[Fota Wildlife Park]], Fota House and the Fota Island Resort Hotel and golf course
* [[Little Island, Cork|Little Island]] – A residential and industrial area
* [[Haulbowline|Haulbowline Island]] – Headquarters of the [[Irish Naval Service]], and former home of the Cork Water Club (1720).<ref>History of yachting in the South of Ireland 1720-1908</ref>
* [[Spike Island, County Cork|Spike Island]] – Former prison island
* [[Harper's Island, County Cork|Harper's Island]] – Site of the Harper's Island Wetland Centre<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.irishexaminer.com/property/homeandoutdoors/arid-30903456.html | publisher = Irish Examiner | website = irishexaminer.com | title = The Islands of Ireland: Sanctuary at Harper's Island | date = 11 February 2019 | accessdate = 24 May 2021 }}</ref>
* [[Hop Island, County Cork|Hop Island]] – Site of an equestrian centre
* [[Weir Island]]
* [[Brick Island]]
* [[Corkbeg Island]]  – Site of [[Whitegate refinery|Whitegate oil refinery]]
* [[Brown Island, County Cork|Brown Island]]
* [[Rocky Island (Cork)|Rocky Island]] – Once housed a magazine building for the [[Royal Navy]]. Used by [[Irish Steel]] for storage until 2002, and now home to 'The Island Crematorium'.

===Settlements===
[[Cork (city)|Cork city]] is located slightly upstream on the [[River Lee (Ireland)|River Lee]] on the northwest corner of Cork Harbour. Several of the city's suburbs, including [[Blackrock, Cork|Blackrock]], [[Mahon, Cork|Mahon]], [[Douglas, Cork|Douglas]], [[Passage West]] and [[Rochestown]] lie on [[Lough Mahon]] or the Douglas Estuary, both of which are parts of Upper Cork Harbour.

The Lower Harbour has a number of towns around its shores. Passage West, [[Monkstown, County Cork|Monkstown]], [[Ringaskiddy]] and the smaller village of Raffeen are found on the western shore. On the southwestern shore is [[Crosshaven]]. [[Great Island]], which forms the northern shore of the lower harbour, houses the town of [[Cobh]]. As of 2011, Cobh had a population of about 12,500.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://census.cso.ie/areaprofiles/PDF/ST/cobhlegaltownanditsenvirons.pdf | publisher= Central Statistics Office | work = Census 2011 | date= 2011 | title= Area Profile for Town - Cobh Legal Town and its Environs}}</ref> The eastern shore is less densely populated, but has two villages [[Whitegate, County Cork|Whitegate]] and [[Aghada]], both home to power plants.

The village of [[Ballinacurra, County Cork|Ballinacurra]] is on the northeastern spur of the harbour, known as the Ballynacorra River.  Due to the recent expansion of the town of [[Midleton]], Ballinacurra has effectively become a suburb of Midleton, so it could also be said that Midleton lies on Cork Harbour.