River Mersey - Major Rivers Of The British Isles Major Rivers Of The British Isles The River Mersey begins life at the confluence of the twenty four mile long, River Tame and the eighteen mile long, River Goyt, which merge in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The Mersey then makes it's way westward for seventy miles before joining the Irish Sea at Liverpool Bay, linking with the Manchester Ship Canal at the confluence of the thirty nine mile long, River Irwell, along the way. The River Mersey's four thousand, six hundred and eighty square kilometre basin is situated on Liverpool Bay in the Irish Sea and has a five mile wide estuary that narrows to nought point seven miles wide between the City of Liverpool, pictured above, on it's east bank and the town of Birkenhead, on the Wirral Peninsula, on it's west bank, an area known in shipping circles as the Atlantic Gateway.

Due to the sudden narrowing of the river, which is situated on a deep channel that experiences Britain's second, and the world's fourth, highest tidal range - thirteen foot high neap tides and thirty two foot high spring tides, a phenomena known as the Mersey Bore - the River Mersey was chosen as the location for Britain's largest, deep water port in 1717, a seven point five mile area of docklands, wharfs and jetties. During the eighteenth century Liverpool's Mersey Docks became Britain's busiest port, where it led the field in the transportation of Cheshire salt, Lancashire coal and textiles, Staffordshire pottery, Birmingham metal wares and Welsh sheep. It also became a leading port in the transportation of spices and bananas into the country and an important transit port during the years of the Slave Trade.The River Mersey was also the first place in Britain to have systematic tidal records logged, when harbour master William Hutchinson began the trend between the years of 1768 - 1793.

The name Mersey is an Anglo Saxon word which means boundary, an apt title, as the river was, for many centuries, the county line that divided the two English counties of Cheshire and Lancashire. This muddy, coloured river that gives the city of Liverpool it's name - liver coloured pool of water - flows through the Greater Manchester towns of Stockport and Salford and the Cheshire towns of Runcorn, Warrington and Widnes. The river is joined by twenty three tributaries, the largest of which are the rivers, Etherow, Irwell, Bollin, Gowy and Weaver. The river links with three canal systems along it's route, the thirty six mile long, Manchester Ship Canal, The ninety three mile long, Trent and Mersey Canal and The fifteen mile long Sankey Canal. The river once linked with the Bridgewater Canal but was cut off after the building of the Silver Jubilee Bridge at Runcorn in 1961.

The river is crossed by three underwater tunnels, two road and one rail, the Mersey Ferry, which links the the City of Liverpool and the town of Birkenhead, one road bridge and one rail bridge linking the Cheshire towns of Runcorn and Widnes and the grade II listed Bridgewater Canal Aqueduct at Stretford, which was built in 1761. In recent years as the Mersey became less used for industry and more importantly recognised as a place of environmental interest, the river has seen a rise in it's stocks of Salmon, Trout, Atlantic Grey Seals and even Porpoise, in it's now much cleaner waters. An area around the Port of Liverpool has been designated as the thirty acre Seaforth Nature Reserve, a haven of freshwater and saltwater lagoons that house a myriad of sea and wading birds.

Other areas of interest along the river's seventy mile route are the City of Liverpool, Liverpool John Lennon Airport, Otterspool Country Park, the Wirral Peninsula, The Spaceport Centre, Birkenhead, Liverpool's Albert Dock, Manchester Ship Canal Tours, Salford Quays and Manchester, home of the Lowrie Centre and The British War Museum, The Wirral Peninsula's seaside resort of New Brighton and the Silver Jubilee Bridge at Runcorn. The River Mersey is considered sacred by British Hindus, who hold the river in the same esteem as they do the sacred River Ganges in India. The river is home to several local yachting and rowing clubs including the Liverpool Yacht Club and the Royal Mersey Yacht Club, which regularly hold regattas and other events upon the river, throughout the year. In 2008 the River Mersey was host port to the annual, international Tall Ships Race, which attracted visitors in their thousands on both sides of the river.

On the first of April 1974, the former borough of Wirral in the county of Cheshire and the metropolitan areas of Liverpool, Sefton, Knowsley and St Helens, in the county of Lancashire, were amalgamated into the area now collectively known as Merseyside. The mouth of the River Mersey is situated between the Wirral coastal resort of New Brighton and the Lancashire town of Bootle, situated on Liverpool Bay, a shallow subsection of the Irish Sea, which is also fed by the Rivers Alt, Clwyd and Dee. Liverpool Bay does not appear to have a designated nautical limit but is shown on most maps as a semi circular area of water situated between Point Lynas on the Isle of Anglesey at it's southern most point to Formby Point on the coast of Lancashire at it's most northerly point. The bay is renowned for it's ten meter high tides which drive very strong tidal currents, particularly along the River Mersey and it's neighbour the River Dee, forming two of the county's eleven tidal bores.

The bay is the site of four gas fields, two oil fields, four Irish Sea coastal observatories, three meteorology stations, thirty four sea water monitoring stations, a gas processing terminal and two wind farms. The bay is also a major shipping channel which carries vessels into both Liverpool and Seaforth Docks and the ferry ports of Birkenhead on the Wirral Peninsula and Heysham in Lancashire. Despite all this the waters of the bay still manage to be a haven for wildlife, which consist mainly of large numbers of porpoise, dolphins and grey seals. The coastline around the bay, despite being a heavily populated area of coastal towns and villages and holiday resorts, also supports large numbers of wildfowl, wading birds, natterjack toads, sand lizards and shell fish along it's many miles of extensive mudflats, sand flats and salt marshes.

The bay is served by five lighthouses, the Perch Rock Lighthouse at New Brighton on the Wirral Peninsula, The Point of Ayr Lighthouse at Talacre in north Wales, the Point of Lynas Lighthouse on the Isle of Anglesey, Crosby Lighthouse on the Lancashire coast and Llandudno Lighthouse situated on the Great Orme in north Wales, which has since been converted into a hotel. The River Mersey is also served by a light ship at the approach to the City of Liverpool and lighthouses situated at Woodside Ferry in Birkenhead and Whitby Locks near Ellesmere Port. Otters make a comeback as River Irwell cleans up - Manchester Evening News News Otters make a comeback as River Irwell cleans up The otter is returning to the region’s rivers with increasing numbers being spotted between Manchester and Salford on the Irwell. The semi-aquatic mammal, which nearly died out in parts of the UK in the 1970s, now thrives across the region according to an Environment Agency survey. Share Get daily updates directly to your inbox + Subscribe Thank you for subscribing!

Could not subscribe, try again laterInvalid Email The otter is returning to the region’s rivers with increasing numbers being spotted between Manchester and Salford on the Irwell. The semi-aquatic mammal, which nearly died out in parts of the UK in the 1970s, now thrives across the region according to an Environment Agency survey. Over the past three years, otters have increased their numbers by nearly half in the Irwell, Ribble, Mersey and tributaries such as the Gowy, Weaver, Bollin and Goyt. Researchers think that a ban on harmful pesticides – as well as a nationwide drive to improve the quality of river water – have led to bumper populations of the fish eaten by otters. A change in the law that made it an offence to intentionally kill or hurt an otter is also thought to have played its part. The fact that otters have even been spotted near industrial waterways such as the River Irwell was a sign of greatly improved water quality, according to Katy Barton of the Environment Agency. She added: “Otters are the highest sign of water quality. They are the best sign that out rivers are really healthy so this is very exciting news.

“The key thing now is not to become complacent and to continue to ramp up the quality of our water.” Toby Willison, north west director of the Environment Agency, said: “The otter is at the top of the food chain, and as such is an important indicator of the health of our rivers. “With otters, salmon and other wildlife choosing to live in the north west’s shows us that our rivers are the healthiest they’ve been since the industrial revolution.” Like us on Facebook Rivers Avon (Bristol) From the Kennet & Avon Canal at Hanham Lock the River Avon runs for 13.75 miles to the Bristol Channel and then into open sea. The wonderful city of Bristol is steeped in maritime and engineering history, much of which is attributable to Isambard Kingdom Brunel . Brunel's incredible suspension bridge at Clifton is a spectacle never forgotten. Bristol Docks have undergone modernisation and the famous 18th Century statue of Neptune, originally erected in the Temple area, is now part of a pedestrianised city centre. Avon (Stratford) Upper Avon or Warwickshire Avon River in southern England; length 154 km / 96 miles.

Sometimes known as the Upper Avon or Warwickshire Avon, it rises in the Northamptonshire uplands near Naseby and flows southwest through Warwick, Stratford-upon-Avon, and Evesham, before joining the River Severn near Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire. One of Britain's most secluded cruising rivers, the Avon meanders past ancient towns and through picturesque countryside. It flows through Stratford, Evesham and Pershore to Tewkesbury, where it meets the mighty River Severn . Its surroundings have changed little since the days of its most famous son, William Shakespeare. The Avon is a popular river with motor cruisers and narrowboats, but the wide valley and peaceful villages give it an untroubled air that makes it one of Britain's most relaxing waterways. Though there is no continuous towpath, there are many walking opportunities. It is often known as Shakespeare's Avon or simply the 'Stratford Avon', because Avon is such a common river name - deriving from Afon, the Welsh for 'river'.

Calder River in West Yorkshire, England; length 72 km / 45 miles It rises in the Pennine moors northwest of Todmorden, and joins the River Aire at Castleford. Several large reservoirs supplying water to West Yorkshire towns lie within its catchment area. The Aire and Calder Navigation forms a link in the system of rivers and canals that provides a waterway from the River Mersey to the River Humber. The Calder valley, via Hebden Bridge, Sowerby Bridge, Mirfield, to Wakefield, is one of the main road and rail routes through the Pennines. Calder River in Cumbria, England. It flows into the Irish Sea 16 km / 10 miles southeast of Whitehaven. Calder River in central Lancashire, England; length 24 km / 15 miles It joins the River Ribble near Whalley. Cam River in southeast England. It rises in Ashwell, Hertfordshire, and flows 65 km / 40 miles northwest and northeast through Cambridgeshire, and then into the River Ouse, 6 km / 4 miles south of Ely.

The Cam is joined at Hauxton by the River Granta, which rises in Essex, and is known thereafter as either the Cam or the Granta. It is navigable as far as the city of Cambridge. Dee (Cheshire) The River Dee passes through magnificent borderland scenery as it tumbles from Llyn Tegid (Bala Lake) through Llangollen to Chester and the sea. Along its way, it passes over Horseshoe Falls and under the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, two landmarks around the charming town of Llangollen. The Dee can be navigated by all craft from Farndon, in rural Cheshire, through Chester and out to the sea. The upper reaches are prized by canoeists, though access rights are hotly debated. Dee (Scotland) The fifth longest river in Scotland, the Dee flows through some of the most stunning scenery in Scotland on its journey from the Cairngorm Mountains to the North Sea at Aberdeen. Fast-flowing and rocky at times, the River Dee has an abundance of character that is magnificent. It is not uncommon to see canoeists paddling down along the river.

The �Royal Dee' is overlooked, at parts, by the magnificent Balmoral Estate, which offers angling and also some impressive marked walks. Balmoral Castle has been enjoyed by generations of royals since Queen Victoria. Dove River in Derbyshire, England, a tributary of the Trent; length 65 km / 40 miles. The Dove rises on Axe Edge, 6 km / 4 miles from Buxton, and forms the southwestern border between Derbyshire and Staffordshire as it flows south to join the Trent near Burton. The valley of Dovedale, below Hartington, where the river runs through a rocky, wooded gorge some 3 km / 2 miles long, is popular with walkers. Fal For more than 2,000 years the River Fal was the life-blood of the Cornish community between Truro and Falmouth. Today, the tourist town of Falmouth is known as the sailing and yachting capital of the county. Luxury vessels line the Fal Estuary � the third largest natural harbour in the world � and pretty yachts congregate during the Falmouth sailing regatta.

Back in the 17th Century, Falmouth was famed for its Post Office Packet sailing boats which carried mail and cargo to and from places as far afield as the East Indies. Boats have travelled up the Fal to the port of Truro since the bygone days of 1170, and vessels approaching 85m in length still regularly sail upstream into the city. The traditional industries of ship repair, cargo handling and yacht building continue to bring money into Falmouth, and old-fashined oyster boats can still be seen trailing the river and charming onlookers. However, the town and the area surrounding the river are now largely dependent on tourism. Cornwall is an ever popular holiday destination � especially during the summer months � and the Fal's maritime traditions, picturesque harbours and interesting towns win the hearts of visitors year after year. Great Ouse River which rises near Brackley in Northamptonshire, central England, and flows eastwards through Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Norfolk, before entering the Wash north of King's Lynn; length 250 km / 160 miles.

A large sluice across the Great Ouse, near King's Lynn, was built as part of extensive flood-control works in 1959. The chief tributaries of the Great Ouse are the Ivel, Cam , Lark, Little Ouse, Wissey, and Nar, all of which come from the south or east. The Bedfordshire Ouse was diverted in the 17th century from its devious course through Ely via two new channels called the New and Old Bedford rivers, 32 km / 20 miles long, running in a direct line from Earith near St Ives to Denver Sluice near Downham Market. Hamble For 7.5 miles from Botley to Southampton Water, the River Hamble offers facilities for sea-going vessels in scenic surroundings that are very popular especially in the high season. It's known throughout the yachting world as the Heart of British Yachting. The river's position makes it suited both for weekend trips and as a base for international yachtsmen. There are numerous festivals and regattas throughout the year. The entrance to the River is illuminated with sector lights at Hamble Point and Warsash.

Manifold River which flows through the Manifold Valley, a limestone gorge situated at the southern end of the Peak District in Staffordshire, England. For a distance of about 1.5 km / 1 miles the river disappears underground in swallow holes for part of the year. Mersey River in northwest England; length 112 km / 70 miles. Formed by the confluence of the Goyt and Tame rivers at Stockport, it flows west through the south of Manchester, is joined by the Irwell at Flixton and by the Weaver at Runcorn, and enters the Irish Sea at Liverpool Bay. It drains large areas of the Lancashire and Cheshire plains. The Mersey is linked to the Manchester Ship Canal. Although plans were announced in 1990 to build a 1,800-m / 5,907-ft barrage across the Mersey estuary to generate electricity from tides, these were abandoned in 1992 for financial reasons. The river lies entirely below 45 m / 150 ft. It is artificially modified (as part of the Manchester Ship Canal) as far as Warrington, where it becomes tidal.

The Mersey is polluted by industrial waste, sewage, and chemicals. The Mersey became an artery of communications from the 18th century. Boats for passengers and goods used the river, with its major tributary the Irwell, between Liverpool and Manchester from 1720; the Bridgewater Canal acquired this traffic in the late 18th century. The Mersey had passenger services until the development of the railway in the middle of the 19th century. In the estuary (which has an area of over 78 sq km / 30 sq miles), steam ferries provided transport for commuters from the residential areas of Cheshire to Liverpool from 1815. In 1934 the first road tunnel under the Mersey was opened. Until the 1920s the river formed the boundary between Lancashire and Cheshire. Nidd River in North Yorkshire, England, located within the Yorkshire Dales National Park. The river flows southeast from the base of Whernside (27 km / 17 miles northwest of Ripon) into the River Ouse near York. Water is supplied to Bradford from a dam above the village of Pateley Bridge.

Upper Nidderdale is a designated area of outstanding natural beauty. Nith River of southern Scotland, rising in East Ayrshire unitary authority, about 13 km / 8 miles south of Cumnock, and flowing southeast for about 112 km / 70 miles through the valley of Nithsdale in Dumfries and Galloway unitary authority, before entering the Solway Firth 13 km / 8 miles south of Dumfries. Severn Welsh Hafren Longest River in Britain , which rises on the slopes of Plynlimon, in Ceredigion, west Wales, and flows east and then south, finally forming a long estuary leading into the Bristol Channel; length 336 km / 208 miles. The Severn is navigable for 290 km / 180 miles, up to Welshpool (Trallwng) on the Welsh border. The principal towns on its course are Shrewsbury, Worcester, and Gloucester. England and South Wales are linked by two road bridges and a railway tunnel crossing the Severn.

A remarkable feature of the river is a tidal wave known as the `Severn Bore� that flows for some miles upstream and can reach a height of 2 m / 6 ft. The Severn rail tunnel was built in 1873-85. The first of the road bridges to be built opened in 1966, and carries the M4 motorway linking London and South Wales. A second road bridge was opened in 1996 and carries the M48 motorway. From its source, the Severn passes east through Powys and enters Shropshire near the Brythen Hills. Southeast of Shrewsbury, the river passes through Ironbridge Gorge, `cradle of the Industrial Revolution� and now a tourist attraction. Thereafter, it runs through Worcestershire and Gloucestershire, widening considerably after it passes Newnham. The Severn is navigable by larger ships (of around 8,000 tonnes) as far as Sharpness, and by smaller vessels (up to 700 tonnes) to Gloucester, while barges of 350 tonnes capacity can negotiate its upper reaches as far as Stourport.

The Severn is connected with the rivers Trent and Mersey via the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal , and with the canal network around Birmingham via the Worcester and Birmingham Canal , which joins the Severn at Worcester. Between Gloucester and Sharpness, the treacherous nature of the riverbed necessitated the construction, in 1827, of the 26 km / 16 mile long, lock-free Sharpness and Gloucester Ship Canal. Tributaries of the Severn include the Teme, Stour, Wye , Vyrnwy, Tern, and Avon; in total, the river basin covers an area of 11,420 sq km / 4,409 sq miles. Crossings Between 1873 and 1885, a rail tunnel was dug underneath the Severn near Chepstow, running for a distance of 7.2 km / 4.4 miles, from New Passage to Portskewett; this crossing greatly facilitated travel between Bristol and the Welsh capital Cardiff.

A road suspension bridge was opened nearby, from Aust to Beachley, in 1966; this crossing carries the main M4 motorway linking London and South Wales and is subject to payment of a toll by users. Because of the increase in traffic volume, construction of a new road bridge was started in 1992 and completed five years later. Hydroelectric power In 1933, a committee recommended the construction of a hydroelectric power station on a river barrage at English Stones reef, which would utilize the tidal flow of the Severn. This plan, which was interrupted by World War II, was revived in 1945, when engineers confirmed the practicability of the scheme and projected an output of some 2,190,000,000 kWh. However, no tidal power plant has yet been built. Spey Second longest river in Scotland. It flows through Highland and Moray, rising 14 km / 8 miles southeast of Fort Augustus, for 172 km / 107 miles to the Moray Firth between Lossiemouth and Buckie. It has salmon fisheries at its mouth. The upper river augments the Lochaber hydroelectric scheme.

Whisky is distilled in the Spey valley. Taf River in Carmarthenshire, southwest Wales, rising on the eastern side of the Preseli Hills and flowing through Carmarthenshire to Carmarthen Bay; length 50 km / 31 miles Commercial fisheries operate in Carmarthen Bay. The village of Laugharne lies at the mouth of the river. Tay Longest river in Scotland ; length 193 km / 120 miles, it flows northeast through Loch Tay, then east and southeast past Perth to the Firth of Tay, crossed at Dundee by the Tay Bridge, before joining the North Sea. The Tay has salmon fisheries; its main tributaries are the Tummel, Isla, and Earn, Braan, and Almond. The drainage basin of the Tay and its tributaries forms one the most fully integrated hydroelectric developments in the north of Scotland. The first Tay Bridge, opened in 1878, on the then longest span over water in the world, was blown into the river in 1879, along with a train which was passing over it.

The bridge was rebuilt in 1883-88, and a road bridge, from Newport-on-Tay to Dundee, was completed in 1966. Tees River flowing from the Pennines in Cumbria, northwest England, to the North Sea via Tees Bay, Middlesborough unitary authority, in northeast England; length 130 km / 80 miles. Its port, Teesport, handles in excess of 42 million tonnes per annum, with port trade mainly chemical-related. Although much of the river nearing the sea is polluted with industrial waste, sewage, and chemicals, the Tees Barrage (opened in 1985, cost of construction �50 million) enables a 16 km / 10 mile stretch of the river to provide clean, non-tidal water. This is used for white - water sports, including canoeing. The Tees rises in the north Pennines at Tees Head, on the easterly reaches of Cross Fell, Cumbria, and flows southeast and then northeast through Stockton-on-Tees and Middlesbrough, entering the Tees Mouth estuary to join the North Sea.

It is navigable to Middlesbrough. Its main tributaries are the Lune, Balder, and Greta. The river valley, known as Teesdale, includes Mickle Fell (790 m / 2,326 ft), the highest point in County Durham, and the waterfall of High Force. The Tees has a unique transporter bridge (a bridge consisting of a movable platform suspended from cables), opened in 1911, which has 49 m / 160 ft clearance above the water. Its central section transports cars and people across the Tees towards Hartepool. It is the sole working example in England. Teme The river Teme is the second largest tributary of the River Severn . It rises in the Kerry hills in Mid Wales from a small spring in Bryn Coch quarry on Cilfaesty Hills at 460 metres above sea level. The Teme is a rural river flowing through unspoilt countryside which is regarded as some of the most attractive in Britain. The main town on the Teme is the historic border town of Ludlow in Shropshire.

The Teme Valley, running down from Ludlow, comprises of the orchards, woods and countryside of Herefordshire and Worcestershire, to the foothills of the Malverns, the valley of the River Teme is an area of great beauty, interesting architecture, quiet places and rural pursuits. The rural nature of the river is reflected by high quality water with excellent brown trout and grayling fishing, with a challenge for the purist angler willing to accept the rugged conditions. Thames River in south England, flowing through London; length 338 km / 210 miles. The longest river in England , it rises in the Cotswold Hills above Cirencester and is tidal as far as Teddington. Below London there is protection from flooding by means of the Thames Barrier (1982). The headstreams unite at Lechlade. Tributaries from the north are the Windrush, Evenlode, Cherwell, Thame, Colne, Lea, and Roding; and from the south, the Kennet, Loddon, Wey, Mole, Darent, and Medway. Around Oxford the river is sometimes poetically called the Isis.

The construction of a 11 km / 7 mile flood alleviation channel between Maidenhead and Eton was approved in 1994. At Gravesend, the head of the estuary, it has a width of 1 km / 0.6 miles, gradually increasing to 16 km / 10 miles at the Nore. Lying some 5 km / 3 miles southwest of the Nore is the mouth of the Medway estuary, at the head of which lie Chatham with important naval dockyards, Gillingham, and Rochester. Gravesend on the south bank of the river, some 40 km / 25 miles from the Nore, developed at a point where vessels used to await the turn of the tide. Tidal waters reach Teddington, 100 km / 62 miles from its mouth, where the first lock from the sea (except for the tidal lock at Richmond) is located. There are in all 47 locks, St John's Lock, Lechlade, being nearest the source.

The normal rise and fall of the tide is from 4.5 m / 15 ft to 7 m / 23 ft at London Bridge and from 4 m / 13 ft to 6 m / 20 ft at Tilbury. Until Tower Bridge was built, London Bridge was the lowest in the course; the reach between these two bridges is known as the `Pool of London�. Tilbury, Fort and Docks, important as the main London container terminal, lies opposite Gravesend on the northern bank. At Woolwich, some 30 km / 19 miles above Tilbury, is the arsenal; Greenwich, a little farther upriver, has the Royal Naval College. Between Tilbury and London Bridge (some 40 km / 25 miles upstream) stretches the London dock System. The Thames has been frozen over at various times, the earliest recorded occasion being AD 1150. The embankments of the Thames in London were the work of Sir Joseph Bazalgette (1819-91), chief engineer of the Metropolitan Board of Works.

The Albert Embankment on the south side was completed in 1869, the Victoria Embankment from Westminster to Blackfriars in 1870, and the Chelsea Embankment from the Royal Hospital to Battersea Bridge in 1874. In January 1949 work was started on a new embankment, designed by J Rawlinson, chief engineer of the former London County Council, on the south side from County Hall to Waterloo Bridge. These embankments were raised after 1974. There are walkways (formerly towpaths) from Teddington to Cricklade. The Port of London Authority is responsible for the control and conservation of the river below Teddington. Above Teddington the Environment Agency is the responsible authority; there is some barge traffic on this stretch of the river. The Thames is of great importance to the water supply of London, partly because the many springs in the chalk usually maintain a steady flow in summer. Salmon returned to the Thames in 1974. The river is spanned by 20 road and nine rail bridges between Hampton Court and the Tower of London.

These include Tower Bridge (which has a drawbridge mechanism to enable large vessels to pass) and a suspension bridge at Hammersmith. The QEII Bridge opened in 1991 joins the counties of Essex and Kent. The chief tunnels under the Thames are the Thames Tunnel, completed by Brunel in 1841, now used by the East London Line of the London Underground; the Blackwall Tunnel (1897) from East India Dock Road to East Greenwich, the Rotherhithe Tunnel (1918) from Shadwell to Rotherhithe, and the Dartford tunnel completed in 1963. There are regular boats from Kingston to Folly Bridge, Oxford, during the summer. There is some beautiful scenery along this part of the river, for example at Cliveden, Cookham, Sonning, and Pangbourne. There are fine bridges at Richmond, Hampton Court, Chertsey, Maidenhead, and Shillingford. Henley , Wallingford, Dorchester, Abingdon, Eton and Windsor are attractive. The Royal Regatta at Henly on Thames is one of the highlights of the British social calander.

Along the 80 km / 50 miles from its source beneath a tree in `Trewsbury Mead� to Oxford, the Thames glides through meadows, its course interrupted only by the small towns of Lechlade and Cricklade and the pretty stone-built hamlets of Kelmscott and Ashton Keynes. In these upper reaches there are two medieval bridges New Bridge and Radcot Bridge. Motor launches can reach Lechlade; beyond that point it is possible to canoe up to Cricklade, but the final 16 km / 10 miles to the source of the Thames is best done on foot. One particularly attractive section is the steep-sided valley through the chalk hills between Goring and Reading, known as the Goring Gap. Trent Third longest river of England; length 275 km / 170 miles. Rising in the south Pennines (at Norton in the Moors) by the Staffordshire-Cheshire border, it flows south and then northeast through Derbyshire, along the county boundary of Leicestershire, and through Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire, joining the Ouse east of Goole to form the Humber estuary, and entering the North Sea below Spurn Head.

Its drainage basin covers more than 10,000 sq km / 4,000 sq miles. Main tributaries are the Churnet, Dove , and Derwent. It is navigable by barge for nearly 160 km / 100 miles. The principal towns and cities along its course are Burton upon Trent, Stoke-on-Trent, Nottingham, and Newark. It is connected with other rivers and with the Birmingham and Lancashire districts by the Trent and Mersey Canal and the Grand Union Canal . The Trent valley includes extensive gravel workings and many electric power stations. Tweed River rising in the Tweedsmuir Hills, 10 km / 6 miles north of Moffat, southwest Scottish Borders, Scotland, and entering the North Sea at Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland; length 156 km / 97 miles. It flows in a northeasterly direction, and from Coldstream until near Berwick-upon-Tweed it forms the border between England and Scotland. It is the fourth longest river in Scotland and is one of the best salmon rivers.

Tyne River of northeast England formed by the union of the North Tyne (rising in the Cheviot Hills) and South Tyne (rising near Cross Fell in Cumbria) near Hexham, Northumberland, and reaching the North Sea at Tynemouth ; length 72 km / 45 miles. Kielder Water (1980) in the North Tyne Valley is Europe's largest artificial lake, 12 km / 7.5 miles long and 0.8 km / 0.5 miles wide, and supplies the industries of Tyneside, Wearside, and Teesside. As well as functioning as a reservoir, it is a major resource for recreational use. The principal tributary of the Tyne is the River Derwent , and the chief towns and cities along its course are Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead, Jarrow, and South Shields. Much of the Tyne basin lies within the Northumberland National Park. Along the lower reaches the Tyneside conurbation developed in the 19th century around shipyards, iron works, and chemical industries.

Tywi or Towy River in Carmarthenshire, southwest Wales; length 108 km / 68 miles It rises in the Cambrian Mountains of central Wales and flows southwest through Carmarthen before entering Carmarthen Bay. Ure River in North Yorkshire, northern England; length about 80 km / 50 miles. It rises 10 km / 6 miles northwest of Hawes, near the borders of Cumbria, and joins the River Swale near Boroughbridge to form the Ouse . Flowing through the spectacular Wensleydale countryside, the river drops dramatically at Aysgarth. Aysgarth Force is located alongside the A684 where a beautiful old single arched bridge spans the river close by. Wear River in northeast England; length 107 km / 67 miles. From its source near Wearhead in the Pennines in County Durham, it flows eastwards along a narrow valley, Weardale, to Bishop Auckland and then northeast past Durham and Chester-le-Street, to meet the North Sea at Sunderland. Weardale is moorland in its upper reaches at Stanhope and Wolsingham.

At Sunderland the Wear cuts a gorge 30 m / 98 ft deep through the local magnesian limestone plateau to reach the North Sea. The city of Durham is built along the Wear, and its castle and cathedral (a World Heritage site) stand 30 m / 100 ft above the river on an incised meander. Wye (Welsh Gwy) River in Wales and England; length 208 km / 130 miles. It rises on Plynlimon in northeast Ceredigion, flows southeast and east through Powys and Hereford and Worcester, and follows the Gwent-Gloucestershire border before joining the river Severn 4 km / 2.5 miles south of Chepstow. It has salmon fisheries and is noted for its scenery particularly at Symonds Yat. Wye River of central England; length 15 km / 9 miles. It rises in the Chiltern Hills in Buckinghamshire and flows in a southeasterly direction to Bourne End where it meets the Thames . Wye River in Derbyshire, central England; length 32 km / 20 miles.

It rises near Buxton and flows in a southeasterly direction to meet the Derwent at Rowsley. Lancashire and Cheshire Fauna Society Although goldfish are occasionally released into the wild, there is no thriving population in the region. Grass Carp Ctenopharyngodon idella An Asiatic cyprinid, the grass carp has been introduced to several waters since 1980, partly to clear weeds and partly for angling (e.g. Whalley Trout fishery/Pine Trees fishery at Whalley, Lancashire, and the Lancaster Canal). It is unlikely that they will ever breed in the wild here, so the species' continuing existence depends on continued stocking. Chub Leuciscus cephalus This is a common species in the Gowy, lower Dee, Dane and cleaner Weaver tributaries, Bollin and its tributary the Dean (Cheshire), Ribble and its tributaries (Hodder and, since clean-up, Calder, Lostock, Darwen and Yarrow) and the Wyre downstream of Garstang (Lancashire), and Glaze Brook (Gtr Manchester). It has been stocked in some canals (e.g.

Sankey Navigation in the 1980s) and lakes (e.g. Worthington Reservoirs, Lancashire, in the 1970s) though it is unlikely that such introductions will result in self-sustaining breeding populations. Ide Leuciscus idus This species is not native to the British Isles, and has been introduced from mainland Europe. It is sometimes kept in garden ponds (a variety known as the golden orfe is popular) and has been stocked into several Cheshire stillwaters (EA). Dace Leuciscus leuciscus A river species with a similar distribution to the chub; it also occurs in the Lune downstream of Forge Weir. In many streams the populations collapsed in the 1980s and in some the species survives only because of stocking by the Environment Agency. The reasons are not clear. Predation by cormorants Phalacrocorax carbo and the effects on dace foods and reproductive success of the choking of riverbeds with blanket-weed (Cladophora) through increased phosphate levels in the river water, have been blamed.

So too has the cleaning-up of organic pollution in rivers that fed the invertebrates on which dace feed. In 2002 the Environment Agency instigated a restocking and habitat improvement programme to improve stocks of dace and other similar declining species. Roach Rutilus rutilus One of the most widespread and abundant freshwater fish in the region, occurring in all canals, the middle and lower reaches of all clean rivers, mossland drains, and farm ponds, gravel pits, meres and some reservoirs. Rudd Scardinius erythrophthalmus This is primarily a stillwater fish, occurring in the Cheshire meres, farm dew-ponds, and fenlands such as Leighton Moss and Hawes Water. It has been stocked more recently into abandoned sandworkings (e.g. Westlow Mere at Congleton and Mere Sands Wood LWT Reserve), and in the pools in the waterfowl garden at Martin Mere WWT. Rudd can also be found in weedier stretches of canals (e.g. Rufford Branch of the Leeds & Liverpool and Tewitfield section of the Lancaster).

It also occurs in small numbers in the lowland reaches of several streams such as the Dane and Weaver, and has been reported from the lower Ribble. Bitterling Rhodeus sericeus This small cyprinid is a native of central Europe and was brought to Britain by aquarists fascinated by its unique breeding behaviour, which depends on the presence of the freshwater mussel Anodonta cygnea. The female deposits her relatively few eggs into the mantle cavity of the mussel and there the male fertilises them and they develop. In the 1920s bitterling were released into canals and pools in the St Helens area of south Lancashire and then, in the 1940s and 1950s to small pools on the Wirral. These two areas are still the main centres of bitterling population in Britain. In 2001-2 the Environment Agency also recorded them from the River Wheelock (in the Dane-Weaver system) and in the River Gowy (Cheshire); bitterling also occur at Mere Sands Wood LWT Reserve.

Minnow Phoxinus phoxinus This small fish occurs in all clean rivers in the region including the Dee, Dane, Bollin, Birkin and Gowy, the upper Irwell, the Ribble, Hodder and Douglas and their tributaries, and the Wyre and Lune. Bream/Bronze Bream Abramis brama Although the bream occurs in the slower, deeper reaches of rivers such as the Dane and Ribble, it is primarily a species of lowland stillwaters and canals. It is, for instance, a dominant species in many Cheshire meres and the larger mossland drains. It thrives in the near foetid pools in the waterfowl garden of Martin Mere WWT, devouring bread and grain meant for the ducks. In 1989 it was stocked into the Ship Canal at Salford Quays. Silver Bream Blicca bjoerkna Ellison & Chubb gave no records of this species, which does occur in lowland meres and slow rivers in Cheshire and South Lancashire: e.g.

Astle Pool, Chelford; Double Woods Pool, Mere; River Mere; Martin Mere WWT Reserve and Mere Sands Wood LWT Reserve. Care needs to be taken when identifying possible silver bream and young small bronze bream, know as 'skimmers' which are very common in some canals (e.g. Lancaster) and are quite silvery. Barbel Barbus barbus Ellison & Chubb gave no records for this species. Following subsequent introduction, today barbel occur in the River Dane around Holmes Chapel, the Bollin-Dean system (introduced about 1994) and in the Ribble between Preston (introduced illegally in the early 1970s) and Hodderfoot (there is a 2002 report of them occurring in the Hodder above Winkley Weir). The Environment Agency also has records from the Ribble as far upstream as Settle (North Yorkshire) and from the Yarrow and Savick Brook (Lancashire).

Gudgeon Gobio gobio This small cyprinid occurs in clean, and some not so clean, rivers, park lakes, canals and mossland drains in the region from the Ribble southwards to the Dane and Weaver, including Prince's and Sefton Park lakes (Liverpool), the Leeds-Liverpool canal and Martin Mere WWT Reserve and waterfowl gardens. Like the dace, gudgeon stocks in the Ribble declined through the last quarter of the 20th century; in the 1970s day-catches of 10-20 were not unusual whereas today catching more than one is noteworthy. Tench Tinca tinca A species of eutrophic stillwaters and canals, the tench is commonly found in Cheshire's meres, some mining-subsidence flashes, lowland pools in the Fylde, the Leeds-Liverpool canal especially between Maghull and Scarisbrick, the Sankey Navigation, and the Bridgewater, Trent & Mersey and Shropshire Union canals.

I have seen it 'bubbling' at Mere Sands Wood LWT Reserve, and it has been stocked at Martin Mere WWT Reserve and waterfowl gardens. Stone Loach Noemacheilus barbatula A species of clean gravel- and sand-bottomed streams that is often overlooked, for it tends to be nocturnal or crepuscular in its habits. It occurs in the Rivers Lune, Wyre, Ribble, Gowy, Bollin and the Dane-Weaver system and their feeder streams. I have no note of this species from the Dee. [Spined Loach Cobitis taenia] Ellison & Chubb quoted a record from Wayoh Reservoir, near Bolton on 12 June 1952 and questioned whether the species had been overlooked. I know of no other record and failed to catch one from Wayoh or neighbouring Jumbles and Entwistle Reservoirs in 1983-4. The Environment Agency confirms that there are no Cheshire/Merseyside records. This casts doubts on the Wayoh record and, though Alfred Hazelwood who identified it was unlikely to have made a mistake, the record should be placed in square brackets.

European Catfish/Wels Siluris glanis This east European giant of a fish has been introduced widely, west to Spain. There have been rumours that it has been introduced to some British waters, including Lancashire. These rumours have been proved correct: the wels has been captured in pools in the Fylde (Environment Agency). Under DEFRA regulations, any wells caught in this country must be removed from the water. Three-spined Stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus This well-known species is the most widespread fish in our region. It occurs in most freshwater habitats from dewponds, some reservoirs (since 2000 there has been a late summer population explosion in Parsonage Reservoir, Blackburn), the margins of meres and mining-subsidence flashes (it is common in the Wigan and Pennington Flashes), mossland drains, canals and rivers down to the tide. It appears to be capable of surviving in water so polluted that other fish species cannot survive.

Ellison & Chubb recorded the species from a shrimping net in Liverpool Bay (1931), from West Kirby marine lake, and a tidal gutter at Hilbre; I have found it on the Ribble estuary in saltpans on the saltmarshes and from a pool by the sand-winning track across Horse Bank. Nine- (Ten-) spined Stickleback Pungitius pungitius Ellison & Chubb described this tiny fish as being widely distributed. However, it is not a common species, seeming to demand very shallow, weed-rich pond margins or ditches. This is a habitat that commonly dried up permanently during the summer droughts of the last quarter of the 20th century (I know of two ponds in the Fylde and three in the Leigh-Wigan area where this happened) or have been filled in by farmers or the builders of housing estates (I know of two close to Leigh where this has happened). Nine-spined sticklebacks occur on some wetland reserves (e.g. Leighton Moss and Martin Mere WWT waterfowl gardens). It has been recorded in brackish water by the Dee and Ribble estuaries.

Miller’s Thumb (Bullhead or Sculpin) Cottus gobio This species requires clean, well-oxygenated water and, although it occurs in oligotrophic lakes further north in Britain, in this region it occurs only in streams with loose boulders under which it can hide by day and deposit its characteristic egg-mass. It is a common fish of the Lune, Ribble and Hodder, and Wyre (Lancashire), the Bollin and Dean, the Dane and Peover Eye and their tributaries, and the Gowy (Cheshire). It has recently been recorded from Rainford Brook (Sankey system) and Prescot Brook (Merseyside), the Yarrow (Lancashire) and upper Irwell (Greater Manchester). Sea Bass Dicentrarchus labrax This primarily marine fish does penetrate estuaries close to the limit of brackish-fresh water between May and October: Dee Estuary, Ribble to Warton, Wyre to Shard Bridge, Lune to Glasson Dock.

Perch Perca fluviatilis With the roach, one of the best-known and most widespread of our freshwater fish, occurring in small dewponds, canals, large meres and some reservoirs, mossland drains and the lower reaches of rivers from the Ribble southwards. Ruffe or Pope Gymnocephalus cernuus Ellison & Chubbe described this species as 'uncommon'. However, it occurs in small numbers in most (if not all) canals, has been recorded from the slower reaches of the Ribble and Lune (Lancashire), Alt and Sutton Brook (Merseyside), Dee, Dane and Weaver (Cheshire), and from some reservoirs (e.g Bosley and Hurleston in Cheshire and Entwistle and Wayoh in Greater Manchester). Thick-lipped Mullet Chelon labrosus Like the sea bass, this is a marine species that penetrates all estuaries during the summer months. On the Mersey it can be seen in Liverpool and Birkenhead Docks, on the Lune below Skerton Bridge, and on the Ribble upstream to Savick Brook and the Douglas.

Common Goby Pomatoschistus microps This is primarily an estuarine, brackish water species (it has been recorded from saltpans on Morecambe Bay and Ribble saltmarshes and from pools on mussel-beds of the Wyre Estuary); in 2000-2002 the Environment Agency recorded specimens from the canal at Weston (Cheshire) and from Whittle Brook (Warrington). Flounder or Fluke Platichthys flesus This primarily marine species penetrates true freshwater in the Dee as far as Farndon, the Mersey into the River Gowy, Rivacre Brook (Ellesmere Port), Weston Canal and Whittle Brook, the Ribble upstream of Salmesbury, the Wyre to Garstang and the Lune to Skerton weir. It is abundant in the brackish estuaries: e.g. salmon netsmen on the Ribble often catch over 100 per tide between Freckleton Naze and Lytham, while Ellison & Chubb described it as 'probably the most numerous resident of West Kirkby Marine Lake'. References Buller, F. (1971) The Pike.

Stanley Paul, London Ellison, N.F. & J.C. Chubb (1962) The marine and freshwater fishes of Lancashire and Cheshire. Lancashire & Cheshire Fauna Committee Thirty-second Report, 40: 1-34. Ellison, N.F. & J.C. Chubb (1963). The marine and freshwater fishes of Lancashire and Cheshire. Lancashire & Cheshire Fauna Committee Thirty-third Report, 43: 1-6. Ellison, N.F. & J.C. Chubb (1968) The smelt of Rostherne Mere, Cheshire. Lancashire & Cheshire Fauna Society 53: 7-16. Greenhalgh, M. 1999. Freshwater Fish: the natural history of over 160 native European species. Mitchell Beazley, London. Greenhalgh, M. 2001. The Pocket Guide to Freshwater Fish of Britain & Europe. Mitchell Beazley, London. Yalden, D. (1999) The history of British Mammals. T & AD Poyser, London.

River Mersey : Map (The Full Wiki) The Full Wiki Top rankings for River Mersey 4th Wikipedia article: Map showing all locations mentioned on Wikipedia article: The River Mersey ( ) is a river in North West England . It is around long, stretching from Stockport , and the River Tame . The modern accepted start of the Mersey is at the confluence of the Tame and Goyt, in central Stockport . However, older definitions, and many older maps, place its start a few miles up the Goyt; for example the 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica states "It is formed by the junction of the Goyt and the Etherow a short distance below Marple in Greater Manchester on the first-named stream." Stockport to Warrington , then at Irlam it flows into the Manchester Ship Canal , which is the canalised River Irwell to this point. The course of the Mersey has been obliterated by the Canal past Hollins Green .

At Rixton the River Bollin enters the Canal from the south and the Mersey leaves the Canal to the north, meandering through Woolston , where the Ship Canal Company's dredgings have formed a nature reserve (Woolston Eyes), and Warrington . It is tidal from Howley Weir in Warrington, although high spring tides often top the weir. A small bypass around Howley Weir, Howley Lock, was created before the ship canal existed, but is now redundant. The lock can still be seen to this day. Runcorn Gap . The Manchester Ship Canal also lies in the Gap, along the southern bank of the river. The Runcorn Gap is bridged by the Silver Jubilee Bridge and Runcorn Railway Bridge , while a project known as Mersey Gateway to build a new road bridge over the Mersey east of the existing bridges is currently under consideration, and has received some government support. Estuary From the Runcorn Gap, the river widens into a large estuary , which is three miles (5 km) wide at its widest point near Ellesmere Port . The course of the river then heads north, with Liverpool to the east and the Wirral Peninsula to the west.

The Manchester Ship Canal continues along the Cheshire bank of the river as far as Eastham Locks , where it enters the river. The eastern part of this estuary is much affected by silting, and part of it is marked on modern maps as dry land instead of as tidal. These wetlands are of importance to wildlife, and are listed as a Ramsar site . The Estuary is also the home of Seaforth Dock, on the Liverpool side of the river. The dock in the 1960s building began as the Royal Seaforth Dock, now known locally as Bootle Docks or the Freeport. The dock deals with around 500,000 containers, 1,236,000 tonnes of oil, over 2.5 million tonnes of grain and animal feed, 452,000 tonnes of wood per year and with 25% of all container traffic between UK and USA making the port one of the most successful in the world. It is known world over as the "Atlantic Gateway". It was also the first UK port with radar assisted operations.

The estuary then narrows to flow between Liverpool and Birkenhead , where it is constricted to a width of , between Albert Dock , after a total course of 68 miles . The conurbation on both sides of the river in this area is known as Merseyside . At 8.4m (27' 6") the River Mersey has the second highest tidal range in Britain - second only to the River Severn . This has led to proposals for the future construction of a tidal barrage to generate electricity. Very high spring tides often generate a tidal bore which can penetrate as far upstream as Warrington. River crossings Two road tunnels run under the Mersey at Liverpool: the older Queensway Tunnel (opened 1934) connecting with Birkenhead, and the Kingsway Tunnel (opened 1971) connecting with Wallasey . There is also a railway tunnel dating back to the 1880s, which carries passenger services on the Wirral Line of the Merseyrail franchise. runs between the Pier Head at Liverpool, and the Wirral terminals at Seacombe , Wallasey and Woodside, Birkenhead. .

Environment Water quality in the River Mersey has been severely affected by industrialisation in the region, and in 1985, the Mersey Basin Campaign was established to improve water quality and encourage waterside regeneration. In 2002, oxygen levels that could support fish along the entire length were witnessed for the first time since industry began on the Mersey. Salmon are now found in the river. They can be viewed on the Salmon Steps at Woolston between the months of September and November. Since 2006 Atlantic Grey Seals have also ventured as far inland as Woolston. In 2009 it was announced that the river is "cleaner than at any time since the industrial revolution " and is "now considered one of the cleanest [rivers] in the UK". Navigation Since the construction of the Manchester Ship Canal , large commercial vessels do not normally navigate the estuary further upstream than Garston on the North Bank, or the locks into the Ship Canal at Eastham . Deep-water channels are maintained to both. Until the early 20th century, commercial traffic bound for further upstream was mainly carried in large flat-bottomed sailing barges known as Mersey Flats .

These could carry cargo as far inland as Howley Wharf in Warrington and (via the Sankey Canal ) to St Helens . Motor barges continued to deliver to riverside factories at Warrington until at least the 1970s, but nowadays only pleasure craft and yachts use the upper estuary and the tidal river, with a number of sailing clubs based there. On most high tides, seagoing yachts with their masts raised can navigate as far upstream as Fiddlers Ferry - about 5 km (3 miles) downstream of Warrington - where there is a small marina accessed via a sea lock. Although river craft can continue as far upstream as Howley Weir, there are no landing or mooring facilities. Portable craft can penetrate as far as Woolston. The barrier to further navigation here is a legal one in that the Mersey then shares its course with the Manchester Ship Canal for some miles upstream. In popular culture The river is now internationally famous thanks to the music of the 1960s known as Merseybeat from the Mersey Sound and its strong association with Liverpool.

The Mersey itself was popularized in the Merseybeat song Ferry Cross the Mersey by Gerry & The Pacemakers . The group later recorded a follow-up, Mersey Lullaby, that is part of the 2007 children's CD/book Blue Moo: Jukebox Hits from Way Back Never, by Sandra Boynton . The band Frankie Goes to Hollywood also recorded "Ferry Cross the Mersey." Paul McCartney 's 2007 song That Was Me, from his album Memory Almost Full mentions merseybeating with the band. Mersey Paradise by The Stone Roses has the river in its title. Religious significance The Mersey is considered sacred by British Hindus, and is even worshipped as equivalent to the River Ganges . After a ceremony on the river in September 2007, plans are underway for a large-scale event in 2008 (the year Liverpool will hold the title of European Capital of Culture). Tributaries

Question: The rivers Gowy, Goyt and Bollin are tributaries of which larger river?
Answer: RIVER MERSEY