- published: 11 Jul 2016
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The Charleston Harbor is an inlet (8 sq mi/20.7 km²) of the Atlantic Ocean at Charleston, South Carolina. The inlet is formed by the junction of Ashley and Cooper rivers at 32°49′7.10″N 79°55′40.41″W / 32.8186389°N 79.9278917°W / 32.8186389; -79.9278917. Morris and Sullivan's Islands shelter the entrance. Charleston Harbor is part of the Intracoastal Waterway.
Like most river mouths in the Southeast, the inlet is evidence of a drowned coastline, created by a rise in sea level in recent geologic time.
The harbor is home to Fort Sumter, site of the first shots of the American Civil War. Charleston Harobor was also the site of the first successful submarine attack in history on February 17, 1864, when the H.L. Hunley made a daring night attack on the USS Housatonic, during the American Civil War.
The 12-foot natural depth of the harbor was a major reason for the establishment and growth of Charleston. The Rivers and Harbors Act of 1852 authorized the federal government to dredge the channels of the harbor to a depth of 17 feet. This deepening work was interrupted by the Civil War, and was not completed until 1860. The jetties at the entrance to the harbor were constructed between 1878 and 1886.