The Weymouth, Dorset reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Jul-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

Weymouth, Dorset

Weymouth is a coastal town in Dorset, England. The town is five miles south of Dorchester, and just north of the Isle of Portland. The district of Weymouth and Portland has a population of 63,648 (2001 UK census data). The town has a long sand beach and is one of the most popular British holiday townss.

The town is acknowledged as the first ever tourist destination, after King George III spent 10 weeks there and popularised sea bathing. The seafront is entirely georgian architecture, and a white horse is carved into the chalk hills to the east of the town.

Weymouth and Portland were extremely important in World War II, as Portland harbour was home to a large naval base, and Weymouth was home to Nothe Fort, together an important part of the D-Day preparations and Bouncing bomb development.

Radipole lake, an RSPB Nature Reserve and mouth of the River Wey is an important habitat for birds and fish. The lake flows into the historical Weymouth harbour, where ferries to France and the Channel Islands dock.

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