Karl Burdoy, age 15, of Muncie, Indiana, for his question:

Is a harbor the same as a port?

A port is a manmade city, a harbor is a natural geographical feature. It is possible to confuse the two because sometimes they cooperate as a team. A harbor is a bite in the coastline, a big bay where the water is deep enough to float sizeable ships and shallow or protected enough to subdue the wild ocean waves. Ships can enter and usually drop anchor while they rest or shelter from storms at sea.

A seaport also is located where the water is deep enough to float sizeable vessels. Manmade channels are dredged and bordered with manmade piers so that ships can anchor beside dry land. Rails, railroads and other transportation conveniences are brought close to the piers to help the ships -load and unload their cargoes. Marine and pilot stations and usually customs are on hand to conduet the practical business of shipping. Some of the world's great port cities are located in natural harbors, where ships waiting to dock can drop anchor out in the sheltered offshore waters.