CHARLOTTE HARBOR

shallow inlet of the Gulf of Mexico, indenting southwestern Florida, U.S. It is about 25 mi (40 km) long and 5 mi wide. The Peace and Myakka rivers enter the harbour's north end, and a dredged channel serves the chief port, Punta Gorda. In 1521 Juan Ponce de Len, a Spanish explorer, tried to establish a colony in the area, but he was driven away by hostile Indians.