The Solent is a strait between the Isle of Wight and mainland Great Britain; the major historic ports of Southampton and Portsmouth lie inland of its shores. It is about 20 miles long and varies in width between 2+1⁄2 and 5 mi, although the Hurst Spit which projects 1+1⁄2 mi (2.4 km) into the Solent narrows the sea crossing between Hurst Castle and Colwell Bay to just over 1 mi (1.6 km).
View of the Solent from Gurnard, near Cowes, Isle of Wight
The Solent from Wootton, Isle of Wight, showing Wightlink Fishbourne–Portsmouth ferries crossing.
Salt marsh near Lepe Country Park, with the Isle of Wight in the distance
Calshot Castle protected the mouth of Southampton Water
The Isle of Wight is an island, English county and unitary authority in the English Channel, 2 to 5 miles off the coast of Hampshire, across the Solent. It is the largest and second-most populous island in England. Referred to as "The Island" by residents, the Isle of Wight has resorts that have been popular holiday destinations since Victorian times. It is known for its mild climate, coastal scenery, and verdant landscape of fields, downland, and chines. The island is historically part of Hampshire. The island is designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
An image of the Isle of Wight from the ISS
A flint hand axe from the Paleolithic, c. 500,000 BP, found on the island in 2010.
A Neolithic arrowhead from c. 2500 – c. 2100 BCE, found on the island in 2011
An early Bronze Age axehead from c. 2000 – c. 1700 BCE, found on the island in 2011
