Portlethen tides today
- Tide now 14.4 ft ↑ rising · high 2:51 am (14.7 ft)
- Best time to fish 3:30–4:10 pm good day · 8/10
- Beach day Not today Not a beach day · 0/10
- Waves · water 1.6 ft · 54 °F smooth · 4.1 s from the south
- Wind · air 7 mph · 51 °F from the SW, gusts 13 · partly cloudy
- Sun 7:12 am–4:31 pm 9 h 19 min of daylight
- Moon 85% · 5:37 pm waning gibbous · rises at 5:37 pm
- Best time to dive 3:30–4:10 pm great day · 9/10
Today in Portlethen there are high tides at 2:51 am (14.7 ft) and 3:14 pm (14.2 ft) and low tides at 8:52 am and 9:15 pm. Tide coefficient 93. Right now the tide is rising toward the high tide at 2:51 am. The sun rises at 7:12 am and sets at 4:31 pm: 9 h 19 min of daylight. The moon is 85% illuminated (waning gibbous) and rises at 5:37 pm. Major solunar periods run from 1:34 am to 3:34 am and from 2:07 pm to 4:07 pm. The next spring tides arrive from November 9 to 11. The sea is smooth, with 1.6 ft waves. There's a light breeze from the southwest (7 mph). Partly cloudy, 51 °F.
Fishing in Portlethen today
Best time to fish
Solunar activity today: high- High tide at 3:14 pm, coefficient 90
- Major period 2:07–4:07 pm
- Sunset at 4:31 pm, golden hour from 3:33 pm
- Rising pressure (+0.25 inHg in 24 h), light cross-shore wind (11 mph) and calm sea (1.3 ft waves)
- Waning gibbous: a bit more activity than at the quarters
- Highest tide coefficient today: 93 (spring tides)
- A major period lines up with sunset
Your day at a glance
The best window, 3:30 pm to 4:10 pm, combines the 3:14 pm high tide, a major period and sunset, though with rising pressure. Also worth a try from 1:50 am to 3:30 am, with the 2:51 am high tide and a major period, though with rising pressure.
Species with the most records nearby: haddock, whiting, European plaice and Atlantic cod. October is one of the months when these are seen most: Atlantic cod. What you can catch
Beach day in Portlethen
Is it a beach day?
- Mostly sunny
- Calm for swimming: 1.4 ft waves
- Low tide at 8:52 am: more sand
- Feels like 51 °F: chilly for the beach
- Moderate cross-shore wind (14 mph)
- Water at 54 °F (very cold)
Today, hour by hour
- Swimming Calm · 1.4 ft
1.4 ft waves: calm for swimming. Low rip current risk. Always follow the lifeguard's flags.
- Water 54 °F
Very cold: ease in and keep swims short.
- Sun & sunscreen UV 1 · SPF 15
Max UV 1 (low): SPF 15 sunscreen.
- Wind 14 mph
Moderate cross-shore wind (14 mph).
- Tide & sand 8:52 am
Low tide at 8:52 am and 9:15 pm: that's when there's the most sand. High tide at 2:51 am and 3:14 pm. Coefficient 93 (spring tides): little sand left at high tide.
We don't have data on jellyfish, sargassum or beach closures: ask the lifeguard or check with the local beach authority. How it works · The next 7 days
Beaches near Portlethen
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Muchalls Shore 4.4 mi · S
- Beach Ballroom Bathing Area 6.1 mi · N
- Restrooms
- Parking
Excellent water quality 2025 season, SEPA
Named beaches within 6.2 mi, nearest first. Amenities from OpenStreetMap: some may be missing or out of date. View on OpenStreetMap · Add or fix on OpenStreetMap
Beaches and amenities: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
UK bathing water quality: SEPA. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Full attribution.
Webcams near Portlethen
Webcams provided by windy.com — add a webcam
Tides in Portlethen
Today's high and low tides
- ▲ Next high tide 2:51 am 14.7 ft · coef. 93
- ▼ Low tide 8:52 am 3.0 ft
- ▲ High tide 3:14 pm 14.2 ft · coef. 90
- ▼ Low tide 9:15 pm 2.8 ft
↑ Rising The tide is rising. 42 min to high tide at 2:51 am.
Tide coefficient 93 for the 2:51 am high tide and 90 for the 3:14 pm high tide. Spring tides. The water rises and falls 11.9 ft between the highest high and the lowest low: a large range for this place. 70 is an average tide here; 90 and above means spring tides; below 45, neap tides. What is the tide coefficient?
2026 extremes: the highest tide of the year is on September 29 (15.2 ft) and the lowest, on August 14 (0.9 ft).
Semidiurnal: two high and two low tides a day, of similar height.
Heights above chart datum: the lowest astronomical tide (LAT), the zero of nautical charts in Europe. Astronomical prediction: wind and air pressure can raise or lower the water by a few inches, and more in a storm. Not for navigation. chart datum (LAT)
Tide coefficient and range in October
The biggest tides of the month came from October 27 to 28 (coefficient 96, 12.7 ft range). The smallest, on October 19 (coefficient 32, 4.8 ft).
Tide and solunar table · this week
| Day | Sun | Tide 1 | Tide 2 | Tide 3 | Tide 4 | Coef. | Moon | Major periods | Activity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today, Thu 29 | 7:12 am · 4:31 pm | High tide 2:51 am · 14.7 ft | Low tide 8:52 am · 3.0 ft | High tide 3:14 pm · 14.2 ft | Low tide 9:15 pm · 2.8 ft | Coef. 93 | 85% | Major periods 1:34 am · 2:07 pm | High |
| Fri 30 | 7:15 am · 4:29 pm | High tide 3:43 am · 14.2 ft | Low tide 9:37 am · 3.8 ft | High tide 4:02 pm · 13.8 ft | Low tide 10:05 pm · 3.2 ft | Coef. 86 | 76% | Major periods 2:39 am · 3:11 pm | Medium |
| Sat 31 | 7:17 am · 4:27 pm | High tide 4:41 am · 13.5 ft | Low tide 10:28 am · 4.8 ft | High tide 4:57 pm · 13.3 ft | Low tide 11:04 pm · 3.9 ft | Coef. 75 | 65% | Major periods 3:42 am · 4:12 pm | Medium |
| Sun 1 | 7:19 am · 4:24 pm | High tide 5:46 am · 12.7 ft | Low tide 11:30 am · 5.8 ft | High tide 5:59 pm · 12.8 ft | — | Coef. 63 | Last quarter | Major periods 4:41 am · 5:08 pm | Low |
| Mon 2 | 7:21 am · 4:22 pm | Low tide 12:17 am · 4.4 ft | High tide 7:00 am · 12.2 ft | Low tide 12:51 pm · 6.4 ft | High tide 7:12 pm · 12.4 ft | Coef. 55 | 43% | Major periods 5:34 am · 6:00 pm | Medium |
| Tue 3 | 7:24 am · 4:20 pm | Low tide 1:44 am · 4.5 ft | High tide 8:20 am · 11.9 ft | Low tide 2:21 pm · 6.4 ft | High tide 8:31 pm · 12.4 ft | Coef. 55 | 32% | Major periods 6:24 am · 6:47 pm | Medium |
| Wed 4 | 7:26 am · 4:18 pm | Low tide 3:05 am · 4.2 ft | High tide 9:35 am · 12.1 ft | Low tide 3:35 pm · 5.8 ft | High tide 9:43 pm · 12.7 ft | Coef. 62 | 23% | Major periods 7:10 am · 7:33 pm | Medium |
▲ high tide · ▼ low tide · heights above chart datum (LAT). Major periods: start time; they last 2 hours. Activity: based on the moon phase and the solunar periods.
Where this tide comes from
Portlethen has no station of its own, so we use the tide at Aberdeen (Environment Agency), 5.5 mi away. On the open coast the difference is usually a few minutes and inches; inside estuaries, rivers and enclosed bays it can be much larger.
Station data attribution: This uses Environment Agency tide gauge data from the real-time data API (Beta): Aberdeen (E70724), https://environment.data.gov.uk/flood-monitoring/id/stations/E70724. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/). Modified: harmonic constants fitted by TidePlanet from the 15-minute sea levels of 2025-10-29 to 2026-10-22 (356 days).
The sea at Portlethen
Sea stateSea state: smooth
The waves you may find
- Most commonMost common0.8 ft
- Significant1.6 ft
- Highest expectedHighest3.4 ft
One wave in seven is higher than the significant height, and about 3 times a day one reaches 3.4 ft. Before heading out, expect waves of up to 3.4 ft.
Wind on the coast and offshore
Cross-offshore wind. The coast faces east and the wind comes off the land at an angle: calmer water near the shore, and bait and boats drift out to sea.
Wave height, next 7 daysWaves, next 7 days
Waves stay much the same all week. The biggest waves arrive on Friday 30: 2.2 ft with a period of 4 s, from the south-southeast (slight).
Water temperature
Water temperature →Water temperature changes how fish behave: in very cold or very warm water they feed less. The water is steady these days, with no sudden changes.
Water warmer than normal for late October (+2.0 °F).
Satellite: NASA MUR (JPL MUR MEaSUREs, PO.DAAC), doi:10.5067/GHGMR-4FJ04. Sources and licenses
Water temperature →Forecast from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0) with models from ECMWF, NOAA, Météo-France, DWD, Copernicus Marine and CAMS. Updated at 2:08 am (local time).
Surf in Portlethen today
Surf today
Flat- Barely any waves (0.7 ft sets): flat
- Almost no wind (4 mph): glassy water
- Falling tide (low tide at 8:52 am)
It’s flat today: almost no waves reach this coast.
- Light: First light 6:32 am · sunrise 7:12 am · sunset 4:31 pm · last light 5:12 pm
- Tide: high 2:51 am (14.7 ft), low 8:52 am (3.0 ft), high 3:14 pm (14.2 ft) and low 9:15 pm (2.8 ft). Every break has its own tide: some work at low tide and others at high tide. The tide doesn’t change the score here.
- Water at 54.0 °F: a 5/4 fullsuit with booties (and a hood if it’s windy).
- Energy: 1 kJ · Low power
Today’s surf at a glance
The best window, 7:00 am to 11:00 am, has glassy water, though with barely any waves.
An estimate for this stretch of coast, not for a specific break: every beach or reef works its own way (its tide, bottom and angle). Check it when you get there.
Follow the flags and the lifeguards, and don’t paddle out if the surf is above your level: this score is a guide, not a substitute for what you see when you get there.
Diving in Portlethen today
Diving and snorkeling today
Likely visibility: good- Slack water around high tide (3:14 pm): little current from 2:50 pm to 3:40 pm
- 0.8 ft swell at 3 s from the south-southeast: barely any surge
- Light cross-shore wind (11 mph)
- 0.1 mph current toward the south, weak (model)
- Daylight
- Slack water today: high tide 2:51 am (2:30–3:10 am), low tide 8:52 am (8:30–9:10 am), high tide 3:14 pm (2:50–3:40 pm) and low tide 9:15 pm (8:50–9:40 pm)
- Likely visibility: good. Swell (up to 2.8 ft at 5 s) over the last few days has stirred up the water. Based on the last 24 hours of data.
- Water at 54.0 °F: a 7 mm semi-dry suit, with hood, gloves and booties.
- Snorkeling: good, calm sea and light wind.
- Night dive: dark from 5:12 pm. Waning gibbous (85%), rising at 5:37 pm: a bright night.
Your diving day at a glance
The best window, 3:30 pm to 4:10 pm, combines slack water at high tide, little swell, light wind and weak current. Also worth a look from 8:30 am to 10:00 am, with slack water at low tide, little swell, light wind and the sun high, though with current.
Slack water comes from the tide: in inlets, channels and between islands the water can keep running for an hour or two after. Ask the local dive shop.
Never dive alone and check with the local dive shop: this rating is a guide, not a substitute for a professional.
Dive sites, wrecks and dive shops nearby
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Trebartha 3.2 mi
- Luffness 4.3 mi
- Matador 5.9 mi
- HMS Gelsina 5.9 mi
- Branksea 5.9 mi
- Glen Tanar 7.5 mi
- Sheriffmuir 9.5 mi
- Wreck 4.5 mi
- Wreck 5.9 mi
- Aberdeen Diving Services LTD. 3.3 mi
- Underwater Contracting Ltd. 4.4 mi
- Hey Diver 9.1 mi
Within 12 mi. Some may be missing or closed; marine reserves usually need a permit. Open the map on OpenStreetMap · Missing one? Add it to OpenStreetMap
Wreck and reef positions are approximate and not for navigation; a wreck’s depth runs from the top of the hull to the seabed.
Sites: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Wrecks: EMODnet Human Activities (AND-International), from UK Hydrographic Office data, CC BY 4.0. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Weather in Portlethen
Now in Portlethen
- Low / high
- 46 / 57 °F
- Rain
- 0.00 in · 0%
- Clouds
- 56%
- Humidity
- 87%
- Dew pointDew point
- 47 °F
- Visibility
- 16 mi
- UV indexUV
- 0 · low
- Air qualityAir
- Good · 18
- Saharan dust
- No
- Pollen
- None
Pressure and fishing
- ↗ RisingRising · now Anglers say fish bite less for a while
- → SteadySteady Anglers expect normal activity
- ↘ FallingFalling Anglers say fish feed more before the change
Rising now (+0.04 inHg in 3 hours). Over the next 48 hours: +0.22 inHg. Rising pressure: anglers say fish bite less for a while. Fast changes, either way, tend to affect fishing.
Today, hour by hourHour by hour
Bars: mean wind. Dashed line: gusts. Arrows point where the wind blows to.
| Time | 12:00 am | 3:00 am | 6:00 am | 9:00 am | 12:00 pm | 3:00 pm | 6:00 pm | 9:00 pm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sky | Partly cloudy | Partly cloudy | Mainly clear | Mainly clear | Mainly clear | Overcast | Overcast | Overcast |
| Temperature | 51° | 50° | 47° | 49° | 56° | 56° | 53° | 53° |
| Wind (mph) | 9 SSW | 6 SW | 5 W | 4 WSW | 13 SSW | 13 SSW | 8 SSW | 8 SSW |
| Gusts | 17 | 13 | 10 | 9 | 21 | 22 | 17 | 14 |
| Waves | 1.8 ft | 1.6 ft | 1.4 ft | 1.2 ft | 1.4 ft | 1.4 ft | 1.1 ft | 1.2 ft |
| Rain | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in |
- 3:00 am 50° 6 SW 1.6 ft
- 6:00 am 47° 5 W 1.4 ft
- 9:00 am 49° 4 WSW 1.2 ft
- 12:00 pm 56° 13 SSW 1.4 ft
- 3:00 pm 56° 13 SSW 1.4 ft
- 6:00 pm 53° 8 SSW 1.1 ft
- 9:00 pm 53° 8 SSW 1.2 ft
- 12:00 am 53° 10 SSW 1.4 ft
Next 14 daysComing days
| Day | Sky | Low / high | Max wind | Max wave | High tides |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today · 29 | 46 / 57 °F | 14 mph SSW | 1.8 ft | 2:51 am · 3:14 pm | |
| Fri 30 | 52 / 54 °F | 18 mph SSW | 2.2 ft | 3:43 am · 4:02 pm | |
| Sat 31 | 53 / 57 °F | 9 mph SW | 2.0 ft | 4:41 am · 4:57 pm | |
| Sun 1 | 46 / 55 °F | 15 mph NNW | 1.4 ft | 5:46 am · 5:59 pm | |
| Mon 2 | 45 / 52 °F | 8 mph NW | 1.0 ft | 7:00 am · 7:12 pm | |
| Tue 3 | 37 / 53 °F | 5 mph NNW | 0.9 ft | 8:20 am · 8:31 pm | |
| Wed 4 | 34 / 46 °F | 5 mph W | 0.9 ft | 9:35 am · 9:43 pm | |
| Thu 5 | 37 / 44 °F | 6 mph WSW | 0.6 ft | 10:34 am · 10:42 pm | |
| Fri 6 | 39 / 48 °F | 9 mph SW | 1.1 ft | 11:21 am · 11:30 pm | |
| Sat 7 | 40 / 49 °F | 7 mph SW | 2.2 ft | 12:00 pm | |
| Sun 8 | 42 / 45 °F | 7 mph NW | 2.5 ft | 12:12 am · 12:35 pm | |
| Mon 9 | 46 / 50 °F | 11 mph SE | 3.3 ft | 12:49 am · 1:08 pm | |
| Tue 10 | 47 / 51 °F | 7 mph NW | 2.8 ft | 1:25 am · 1:41 pm | |
| Wed 11 | 49 / 53 °F | 13 mph ESE | 5.4 ft | 2:01 am · 2:14 pm |
- Fri 30 Light rain 52° / 54° 2.2 ft
- Sat 31 Light rain 53° / 57° 2.0 ft
- Sun 1 Light rain 46° / 55° 1.4 ft
- Mon 2 Overcast 45° / 52° 1.0 ft
- Tue 3 Overcast 37° / 53° 0.9 ft
- Wed 4 Overcast 34° / 46° 0.9 ft
- Thu 5 Overcast 37° / 44° 0.6 ft
Each day comes from the best model covering this spot: regional ones first (HRRR and NBM in the U.S., AROME, ICON-EU), then ECMWF; day 16, NOAA GFS. Waves: Météo-France up to day 10, then ECMWF WAM, coarser and further offshore. High tides: our own tide calculation.
- Normal Today, warmer than normal for late October (+5.9 °F; normal high: 51 °F). Climate by month →
Forecast from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0) with models from ECMWF, NOAA, Météo-France, DWD, Copernicus Marine and CAMS. Updated at 2:08 am (local time).
The sun in Portlethen
Sunrise and sunset
- First light 5:47 am
- Full dark 5:57 pm
- Civil dawn 6:32 am
- Civil dusk 5:12 pm
- Solar noon 11:52 am (19° high)
- Daylight 9 h 19 min (−5 min)
- Evening golden hour 3:33 pm
- Full dark 5:57 pm
Golden hour and the day-night map
Today the sun is 92,335,407 mi away and looks 32′ 11″ across.
The moon in Portlethen
Moon phase and position
Today the moon is 226,641 mi away and looks 32′ 45″ across.
Solunar periods
Today's activity: high- 1:34–3:34 am Major · the moon passes overhead · high activity
- 2:07–4:07 pm Major · the moon passes underfoot · high activity
- 12:05–1:05 pm Minor · moonset · medium activity
- 5:07–6:07 pm Minor · moonrise · medium activity
According to solunar theory, fish feed more when the moon passes overhead or underfoot (major periods, about 2 h) and when it rises or sets (minor periods, 1 h). It works best around new and full moon.
Upcoming moon phases
2026 moon calendar →- Last quarter Sun, Nov 1 · 8:29 pmNov 1 in 3 days
- New moon Mon, Nov 9 · 7:03 amNov 9 in 11 days
- First quarter Tue, Nov 17 · 11:48 amNov 17 in 19 days
- Full moon Tue, Nov 24 · 2:54 pmNov 24 in 26 days
Next perigee (the moon at its closest to Earth): November 25, 223,281 mi away.
Where to fish in Portlethen
Piers, ramps and tackle shops nearby
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Survivex Marine Training Centre 5.2 mi
- Ro-Ro Ramp 5.5 mi
- Gregness Breakwater 5.3 mi
- Girdleness Breakwater 5.5 mi
- Logie Trout Fishery 5.8 mi
- Boat ramp 1.7 mi
- Boat ramp 8.0 mi
- Boat ramp 8.1 mi
- Stonehaven Harbour 8.0 mi
- Turning Basin 5.4 mi
- Somers 5.2 mi
- W D Robertson 6.0 mi
Within 9.3 mi. A spot may be missing or closed. Open the map on OpenStreetMap · Missing one? Add it to OpenStreetMap
Spots: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Overture Maps.
Water depth
Gentle slopeThe bottom slopes gently: 16 ft deep 0.5 mi from shore and 33 ft at 0.65 mi. It reaches 164 ft at 1.8 mi.
From the shoreline (1.2 mi from Portlethen) out to sea, heading east.
How far from shore
- 16 ft deep0.5 mi
- 33 ft deep0.65 mi
- 66 ft deep0.9 mi
- 164 ft deep1.8 mi
For fishing, swimming and diving
- Shore fishing. Shallow, gradual bottom (16 ft at 0.5 mi): cast far from the beach and fish the high tide, when there is more water close in.
- Swimming. A very gentle way in with plenty of shallow water, good for kids. At low tide the water can be far out.
- Diving. Shallow near shore: you only reach 33 ft at 0.65 mi. For dives deeper than 33 ft, go by boat.
Rough estimate: here the data comes in cells of about 0.3 mi and misses details near shore (rocks, sandbars, small coves).
Source: EMODnet Bathymetry DTM 2024, here using the GEBCO grid (CC BY 4.0), cells of about 0.3 mi; depth at the lowest astronomical tide. For reference only: not for navigation or anchoring.
Nearest lighthouse
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Girdleness Lighthouse 5.7 mi northeast
- Light
- 2 white flashes every 20 s · Fl(2) W 20s
- Range
- 22 nautical miles (25 mi)
- Light height
- 184 ft above sea level
- Tower height
- 121 ft
- Built
- 1833
Other lighthouses nearby: Aberdeen North Breakwater light (5.9 mi northeast), Aberdeen South Breakwater Lighthouse (6.0 mi northeast).
Light details: NGA List of Lights (USA); the rest from Wikidata. For reference only: not for navigation. Wikipedia · Wikidata · Sources and licenses
Tides near PortlethenTides nearby
- Newtonhill2.6 mi
- Cove2.8 mi
- Nigg3.6 mi
- Aberdeen5.3 mi
- Old Aberdeen6.8 mi
- Stonehaven7.9 mi
- Bridge of Don8.3 mi
- Dubford9.5 mi
- Balmedie13 mi
- Inverbervie16 mi
Portlethen at a glance
- Town or city of about 8,200 people. Coordinates: 57.069° N, 2.132° W.
- It is 33 mi southwest of Peterhead, the main place in Aberdeenshire. The sun rises at the same time and sets 3 min later than in Peterhead.
- The nearest tide station, Aberdeen, is 5.5 mi to the north.
- Its coast faces east.
Questions about PortlethenQuestions
What time is high tide today in Portlethen?
Today in Portlethen there are high tides at 2:51 am (14.7 ft) and 3:14 pm (14.2 ft) and low tides at 8:52 am and 9:15 pm. Tide coefficient 93.
What time is sunset today in Portlethen?
At 4:31 pm. There is light until the end of civil twilight, at 5:12 pm.
What time is sunrise tomorrow in Portlethen?
At 7:15 am. First light comes at 5:49 am.
What phase is the moon today?
Waning gibbous, 85% illuminated. New moon on Mon, Nov 9 · 7:03 am.
When are the next spring tides?
From November 9 to 11.
What are today's solunar periods?
Major 1:34–3:34 am, Minor 12:05–1:05 pm, Major 2:07–4:07 pm, Minor 5:07–6:07 pm. Today's activity is high.
What's the weather like today in Portlethen?
Overcast, from 46 °F to 57 °F, with a light breeze from the southwest (7 mph) and a 0% chance of rain.
How is the sea today in Portlethen?
Smooth (Douglas 2): 1.6 ft waves with a period of 4.1 s from the south. The water is 54.1 °F.
When is the best time to visit Portlethen?
The best time to visit Portlethen is from July to August: highs of 66 °F, about 12 rainy days a month and 5 hours of sunshine a day.
Can I use this data for navigation?
No. These are predictions for fishing and leisure; for navigation, use the official publications.
Where this data comes from
Tide: Aberdeen tide gauge (UK National Tide Gauge Network). This uses Environment Agency tide gauge data from the real-time data API (Beta), under the Open Government Licence v3.0; constants fitted by TidePlanet from a year of its readings. Sun and moon: our own calculation with astronomy-engine. Places: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Coastline: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).