The first part of our journey through the water cycle begins on Dartmoor, where clouds coming in from the sea drop their rain to fill the huge spongy reservoirs of the upland bogs. The first part of our journey through the water cycle begins on Dartmoor, where clouds coming in from the sea drop their rain to fill the huge spongy reservoirs of the upland bogs. Water trickling out feeds the fast moving mountain streams.
Life here is harsh.
Perfectly adapted to the tough conditions it manages to eke out an existence in the upper reaches. Always alert to snap up passing morsels, it feeds on the hapless insects which lose their grip in the raging waters. Flowing downhill, the streams merge to become rivers - slower, warmer, deeper they contain more food in the way of plants, worms, insects, molluscs and other animals. In turn, they support a much greater variety of life - they have a higher biodiversity. Here we see many fish familiar by name, but often recognised only by the angler.