Freetown Estuary/Queen Elizabeth II Quay

Before the city of Freetown was established, the Freetown Estuary was the initial European interest in the area. The estuary is one of the largest natural deep water harbors in the world. This harbor not only provided a great area for ocean going vessels, it also facilitated exploration deeper into the hinterlands via riverways. The estuary was initially controlled by the Portuguese but it fell under British control by the late 1700s. The estuary and harbor were monumental in trans-Atlantic trade during the slave trade and legitimate trade later under colonialism. The harbor was also the home port for the Royal Navy’s West African Squadron, mostly tasked with the interdiction of slave-shipping. The estuary/harbor would later have provenance during the World Wars for global shipping during the war effort. The harbor today is known as Queen Elizabeth II Quay which is the largest in Sierra Leone and in the top 25 of African shipping ports.

The Freetown estuary and its natural harbor facilitated the exploration and colonial exploitation of Freetown and Sierra Leone. Without this natural harbor, exploration and colonial efforts in the area would've been severely hampered. Many slaves departed from this harbor or other slave ships moored here during their journeys. The harbor was the debarkation point for the freed black settlers from "The New World," this populace was the first to settle the city of Freetown. The port was also the point where liberated slaves from the Royal Navy's West African Squadron were released. During the legitimate trade during colonialism, this harbor was important for oceangoing trade.

Jarrett, H. R. "The Port and Town of Freetown." Geography 40, no. 2 (1955): 108-18. Accessed December 2, 2020. http://www.jstor.org/stable/40564316.

Lewis-Jones, Huw. “History - British History in Depth: The Royal Navy and the Battle to End Slavery.” BBC. BBC, February 17, 2011. https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/abolition/royal_navy_article_01.shtml.

“Sierra Leone Port of Freetown .” Digital Logistics Capacity Assessments. Accessed December 2, 2020. https://dlca.logcluster.org/display/public/DLCA/2.1 Sierra Leone Port of Freetown.