Difference between working in a harbor and working in a bay?

Question

What would it be like to work in a harbor and what would be some of the difficulties researchers might encounter while working there, as opposed to conducting work in a more quiet, sheltered bay? I'm asking because I'm deciding whether I'd like to work in a harbor or a bay.

Answer 1

A bay may have houses around it but won't have much industry or commercial piers (although it might).

A harbor for sure has industry, piers, ships coming and going, and offloading.

A bay has more natural shoreline than a harbor, although most harbors have natural areas here and there.

Harbors tend to be near cities, so if you are going go live nearby, if you like being in or near a city, you'll have that going for you when you're off work.

the bay may be near a city too, but it might not, and could be a more rural lifestyle.

Answer 2

Your question has more to do with defining the words than the thing you seem to be asking. A bay is any partially enclosed body of water. A harbor is a place where shipping takes place, where ships interact with a port and take on and put off cargo and passengers. A harbor can be in a bay, but it doesn't have to be.

You seem to really be asking whether you want to work in a metropolitan, busy setting around a port, or whether to work in a rural setting away from a city. There is no right or wrong answer, it depends on what you want to do and what you want out of the job. Both places could be locations for important and fulfilling work.

Answer 3

A bay can be empty (no people there)

A Harbor is an area of piers and building used to support industry.