River Severn

The Severn Bridge links Wales with the southern counties of England and is one of the most important in Britain.

A six mile stretch of the Severn valley in Shropshire, known as the Ironbridge Gorge, was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986. Its historic importance is due to its role as the centre of the iron industry in the early stages of Britain's Industrial Revolution. Ironbridge gets its name from the bridge across the Severn, built in 1779 and the first cast iron bridge ever constructed.

According to some sources, the name "Severn" is derived from the name Sabrina (or "Sabern"), based on the mythical story of the drowning of a nymph in the river.

One of rivers named Avon joins the Severn at Tewkesbury[?], Gloucestershire. The port of Bristol is located at the mouth of the Severn. Between Gloucester and the Welsh border at Chepstow is the Forest of Dean flanking the north bank.

The Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal, the Worcester & Birmingham Canal[?], the Droitwich Canals[?] and the Herefordshire & Gloucestershire canal[?] are joined to the Severn.

A curious phenomenon associated with the lower reaches of the Severn is the tidal phenomenon known as the Severn bore. The river's estuary has the second largest tidal range[?] in the world - about 15 metres - and at certain combinations of the tides, the rising water is funneled up the estuary into a wave that travels rapidly upstream against the river current; enthusiasts even attempt to surf along on the wave. The Severn Bore is a natural example of a self-reinforcing solitary wave or soliton.

The sides of the estuary are also important feeding grounds for waders, notably at the Bridgwater Bay National Nature Reserve.

Links:

• Ironbridge: http://www.ironbridge.org.uk
• The Severn Bore: http://www.severn-bore.co.uk/default.htm