River Severn
The title of this article is ambiguous. For other meanings, see Severn (disambiguation).
The Severn [ˈsɛvən] (River Severn, Welsh Afon Hafren, in ancient times Sabrina or Sabriana) is the longest river in Britain with a length of 354 km. It rises at Llanidloes in central Wales in the Cambrian Mountains at an altitude of 610 m and flows through the English counties of Shropshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire. At its mouth, the Severn becomes the Bristol Channel on the Celtic Sea, separating Wales and England.
The Severn Tunnel of the Great Western Railway passes under the mouth of the Severn. The two motorway bridges over the estuary (opened in 1966 and 1996) connect Wales with the southern counties of England.
A stretch of river in Shropshire just under ten kilometres long, Ironbridge Gorge, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986. This area was the centre of early industrialisation in England. The name Ironbridge comes from the iron bridge built in 1779, the first of its kind in the world. The Severn is connected at several points to the Middle English canal system, the Narrowboat Canals.
A special feature in the estuary, the Severn estuary, is the strong tidal range (low tide and high tide). The difference is about 15 m; this is the second highest tidal difference in the world. At certain times, the rising water is pushed up the river; the resulting tidal waves (called Severn Bore) are popular with surfers. The largest tidal power station on earth was planned for the mouth of the Severn. However, the British government did not pursue the project after a feasibility study.
On the Severn lies a main distribution area of megalithic sites of the Cotswold Severn tomb type.
See also
- List of rivers in the United Kingdom
Questions and Answers
Q: What is the River Severn?
A: The River Severn is the longest river in Great Britain, at about 354 kilometres (220 mi).
Q: Where does the River Severn rise from?
A: The River Severn rises in the Cambrian Mountains of mid Wales.
Q: Which counties does the River Severn flow through?
A: The River Severn flows through Shropshire, Worcestershire, and Gloucestershire.
Q: Which county towns are situated on the banks of the River Severn?
A: The county towns of Shrewsbury, Worcester, and Gloucester are situated on the banks of the River Severn.
Q: Where does the River Severn discharge?
A: The River Severn discharges into the Bristol Channel, which in turn discharges into the Atlantic Ocean.
Q: What is the area of the River Severn's drainage basin?
A: The River Severn's drainage basin area is 11,420 square kilometres (4,409 sq mi), excluding the River Wye and River Avon that flow into the Severn Estuary.
Q: What is the significance of the Second Severn Crossing?
A: The Second Severn Crossing usually marks the point where the River Severn is considered to become the Severn Estuary.
