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There were two hoverports in France for hovercraft travel, one in Boulogne and one in Calais. These were both used by both hovercraft companies Hoverlloyd and Seaspeed, and also by Hoverspeed after their merger until the mid 1990's whereupon Boulogne hoverport was closed, leaving only Calais operational.
(Google Maps)
Postcard images sent by Nigel Thornton.
Costing £600,000 and opened on the 1st April 1969, Calais hoverport was located just north-east of the ferry terminal at Calais, France. The Dover to Calais cross channel route is the quickest way to cross the channel between two populated and easily accessible areas, at 24 miles (40 km). Dover to Calais is not the shortest distance between England and France, however, as (with the exception of the Channel Islands), the closest points to each other in England and France are the tip of the Admiralty Pier, Dover and Cap Gris-Nez respectively, just south-west of Calais, with a distance of 19.91 miles (32.04 km). However, Cap Gris-Nez is merely a headland, and therefore not accessible for traffic.
Interactive Google Maps view of Calais Hoverport and the hoverpad as it is today. It seems to have been integrated into the workings of the Port of Calais.
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