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Spent yesterday over in Yavaros - a little fishing town near Huatabampito. It was tangis day - farmers market. Always interesting to go there.
We're also getting the Alfa's graphics repainted so will be here a while. It's a whole different life here in Mexico and warm
http://lifeinbrowncounty.blogspot.com

As to your question.

A pier is not solid underneath and sits on pilings like a bridge and does not interfere with the flow of water, what most people would call a dock.
A wharf is actually solid (walled and filled) and interferes with the flow of water.
A dock is actually the water between two piers or long side a wharf.

Thank for sharing.

MelissaD wrote:As to your question.

A pier is not solid underneath and sits on pilings like a bridge and does not interfere with the flow of water, what most people would call a dock.
A wharf is actually solid (walled and filled) and interferes with the flow of water.

OK, but Sterns Wharf in Santa Barbara is on pilings and not solid...? Maybe those three words are interchangeable?

BarbaraRose wrote:

MelissaD wrote:As to your question.

A pier is not solid underneath and sits on pilings like a bridge and does not interfere with the flow of water, what most people would call a dock.
A wharf is actually solid (walled and filled) and interferes with the flow of water.

OK, but Sterns Wharf in Santa Barbara is on pilings and not solid...? Maybe those three words are interchangeable?

Fair enough guess it depends upon who writes the definition So I went to the Maritime and Shipping Dictionary.

WORD: Pier MEANING: A structure extending into the water approximately perpendicular to a shore or a bank and providing berthing for ships, and which may also provide cargo-handling facilities.

Wharf is a little more complicated:
MEANING: A Wharf flush with the general adjacent shoreline and of solid construction (usually a back-filled masonry wall), as opposed to the open pile type of construction.

WORD: Marginal wharf MEANING: A Wharf flush with the general adjacent shoreline and normally of concrete or asphalt decking atop open pile supports. This is the predominant type of modern general cargo Wharf. WORD: Offshore wharf MEANING: A Wharf, usually of open pile construction, which is well offshore and connected to the shore only by one or more approach trestles.

WORD: Dock MEANING: A protected water area in which vessels are moored. The term is often used to denote a pier or a wharf. Any platform where vessels can make fast. The act of securing a boat in such a place.

Webster:
Wharf: 1. A structure or platform of timber, masonry, iron, earth, or other material, built on the shore of a harbor, river, canal, or the like, and usually extending from the shore to deep water, so that vessels may lie close alongside to receive and discharge cargo, passengers, etc.; a quay; a pier.

Pier: 1. (Arch.) Any detached mass of masonry, whether insulated or supporting one side of an arch or lintel, as of a bridge; the piece of wall between two openings.
2. A projecting wharf or landing place.
Dock: 1. An artificial basin or an inclosure in connection with a harbor or river, - used for the reception of vessels, and provided with gates for keeping in or shutting out the tide.
2. The slip or water way extending between two piers or projecting wharves, for the reception of ships; - sometimes including the piers themselves; as, to be down on the dock.

I like the history of words and it's interesting how they shift in use based on occupation and or time. Based on the Maritime Dictionary you are correct (highlighted and underlined).

Somewhere in there is Carol' answer

Totally enjoyed your blog...so interesting the pictures and the way you tell about your day...thank you
sheila

OK, back to the bird book..Heermann's Gulls? Thanks again Carol for a great post and pictures. Can you give me some help with the translation of the town names? There is Topolobampo, Huatabampo, Bacobampo.
I'm also interested if you are following the MX legislators about the selling of oil and natural gas. Sempra Energy is headquartered here in San Diego and they have a big facility down in Ensenada. They built a very large dock/pier/wharf for the transfer of LNG. And, they also have a pipeline for propane. (my grandson works for Sempra Energy).
Thanks again for the pictures. lyn

Yavaros is an Indian word - no idea what it means - maybe Bill can find out. Huatabampo - bampo means by the water huata - willows so Huatabampo is willows by the water ---Huatabampito - "ito" implies small or yound so Huatabampito is a smaller Huatabampo
so any town ending in bampo is usually by the water - Topolo ??
haven't heard anything about the gas/oil deal - no radio, TV or paper here - Bill follows the Mexican papers on line but he hasn't said anything.

Thanks for the info Carol...I guess I'm more interested in what goes on down in MX because I live very near the border. lyn