Marsamxett Harbour
Encyclopedia
Valletta
Valletta is the capital of Malta, colloquially known as Il-Belt in Maltese. It is located in the central-eastern portion of the island of Malta, and the historical city has a population of 6,098. The name "Valletta" is traditionally reserved for the historic walled citadel that serves as Malta's...
's two natural harbours on the island of Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
, separated from the southern one (Grand Harbour
Grand Harbour
Grand Harbour is a natural harbour on the island of Malta. It has been used as a harbour since at least Phoenician times...
) by the Valletta peninsula. To the north it is bounded by Gżira
Gzira
Gżira is a town in the north-eastern coast of Malta between Msida & Sliema, and bordering on Ta' Xbiex, with its famed yacht marina and Embassy Row. The population is approximately 7,100 . The word Gżira means "island" in Maltese, and the town is named after Manoel Island which lies just adjacent...
and Sliema
Sliema
Tas-Sliema is a city located on the northeast coast of Malta. It is a centre for shopping, restaurants and café life. Tas-Sliema is also a major commercial and residential area and houses several of Malta's most modern hotels. Tas-Sliema, which means 'peace, comfort', was once a quiet fishing...
as far as Dragut Point and extends inland to Pietà
Pietà, Malta
Tal-Pietà is a small town located on the outskirts of Valletta, the capital city of Malta. Tal-Pietà is the suburb next-closest to the capital after Floriana. Its name is derived from Italian and signifies "mercy".-Description:...
and Msida
Msida
Msida or Imsida is a harbour town in Malta with a population of 7,623 . The town is located just west of Valletta on the northeast coast of Malta. The town enjoys a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry, sunny summers and short, cool winters.The neighbouring towns of Msida are Ta' Xbiex, Gzira, San...
. It is generally more dedicated to leisure use than is Grand Harbour; there is a large yacht marina at Msida and tourist cruise boats operate from Sliema. Within the harbour and reached by a small bridge from Gzira, Manoel Island houses a yacht yard and the 18th century Fort Manoel
Fort Manoel
Fort Manoel is a fortification on the island of Malta. It stands on Manoel Island in Marsamxett Harbour to the north west of Valletta and commands the entrance to Marsamxett Harbour and the anchorage of Sliema Creek...
.
Mid-air collision
In 2006, during the Maltese round of the Aero GPAero GP
Aero GP is an international air racing series with up to eight specially designed high-performance sports planes all racing together at speeds of up to around a tight circuit just metres off the ground and from each other. The competing pilots are military and civilian pilots from around the world...
series, a collision between two planes above the harbour caused the death of one of the pilots.
See also
- Grand HarbourGrand HarbourGrand Harbour is a natural harbour on the island of Malta. It has been used as a harbour since at least Phoenician times...
- Malta FreeportMalta FreeportMalta Freeport, also called Marsaxlokk Port and Marsaxlokk Harbour, is an international port on the island of Malta. It is the 10th busiest container port in Europe and 43rd in the world with a trade volume of 2.3 million TEU's in 2008...