Editing Marsaxlokk (section)

== Topography ==
Situated in the south-east end of the main island of Malta, Marsaxlokk bay is fed by a valley that drains the Marnisi and Ħal Ġinwi areas. The Marsaxlokk floodplain is one of the smaller ones on Malta. Today, a small marsh survives at the head of the bay, named ''Tal-Magħluq''. This may indicate that the bay may have been larger in the past and gradually silted up since antiquity. Although there are no sources from the medieval and early modern period to prove the existence of marshes in the area, a marshy environment survives at the head of the fishing harbour.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last1=Gambin|first1=Timothy|last2=Rosado|first2=Marian|date=April 2015|title=Archaeology/Cultural Heritage Assessment for the proposed breakwaters and sea defences at Marsaxlokk Bay, Malta.|url=https://era.org.mt/en/Documents/07_Archaeology_final.pdf|journal=Era.org.mt}}</ref>

Sediment deposition over recent century has silted the bay, making it significantly more shallow than in antiquity. Researchers hypothesize that vessels of all sizes could once have sought shelter here. A sandy beach may have provided a landing place for small boats. A freshwater supply exists in the valley that lies between two of the three hills dominating the bay - namely to the north-east, north and north-west.<ref name=":1" /> Access to plains around Żejtun would have been easy via this same valley, with a meandering road linking the bay to the [[Żejtun Roman villa|Żejtun Roman Villa]]. While the bay could only have been used as a temporary anchorage without human intervention, a simple sea wall may have enabled the harbour to be used as an all-weather anchorage. In antiquity, its main function would have been to serve the agricultural sites in the surrounding areas. It may also have enjoyed links with the Tas-Silġ sanctuary overlooking the bay.<ref name=":1" />