Dover is an English town on the Strait of Dover. It is the chief town in the district of Dover, which has a population of 116,140. It is famous for its white cliffs, which border the strait. These cliffs are made of chalk. On a clear day, a person standing on the cliffs can see the city of Calais, France, 26 miles (42 kilometers) away. The ruins of Dover Castle overlook the town from one of the chalk cliffs. During World War II (1939-1945), Germany shelled and bombed the city. Dover is the main port of sea travel between England and France, and the city’s port is a major source of local employment. An underwater railroad tunnel from a point near Dover to France opened in 1994 (see Channel Tunnel).
