The Roman port at Portus built by Claudius and later enlarged and improved by Trajan to assist with the overloaded port at nearby Ostia. The inner boat dock was hexagonal in shape, whereas the famous Carthaginian model (which this was obviously borrowed from) had a circular shape with an inner island for varied duties. These ports were vital to Rome as it was not on the coastline like Carthage, but up the river Tiber. The other major port/harbour was on the East of the Peninsula at Brundisium in the South. All were connected by the famous Roman roads and highways. Due to two thousand years of sedimentation and land build up, the connection to the ocean is gone and Portus is now a large lake, with the ruins of boat sheds, docks and buildings still present amongst the thick forest.