2-913-931 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Entrance to Balaclava Harbour, 1854. Crimean War. 'The town of Balaclava is situated close to the harbour, along the foot of the mountain, but it is not provided with good water. As the port is deep, sheltered by lofty mountains, and contracted towards the sea, its waters are in general as calm as those of a pond. The length of the harbour does not exceed one verst and a half, and its breadth is about 200 fathoms. The entrance is very deep; yet being confined within high rocks its channel scarcely admits two vessels to sail abreast...The old fortress, like all the strong places of the Genoese and Greeks in this peninsula is erected on inaccessible rocks, close to the mouth of the harbour, on the adjoining eastern hill. It is fortified with high walls and towers'. From "Illustrated London News", 1854.