Carnon River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Carnon River |
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Carnon River near Point Mills
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 Location within Cornwall
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| Country | England |
| County | Cornwall |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Chacewater, Cornwall 50°15′45″N 5°09′30″W / 50.262394°N 5.158347°W |
| River mouth | Restronguet Creek Cornwall 50°12′28″N 5°04′59″W / 50.2078°N 5.0830°W |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries |
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The Carnon River is a river located in Cornwall, England. It begins its journey in the area of Chacewater. As it flows, other smaller rivers like Trewedna Water and River Kennall join it. Eventually, the Carnon River meets Tallack's Creek and together they form Restronguet Creek. This creek then flows into Carrick Roads, which is a large natural harbour, before reaching the English Channel.
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The Carnon River: A Cornish Story
The Carnon River has a long and interesting history, especially because of the mining that used to happen in its valley. For many years, the area around the river was famous for its rich deposits of metals like tin and gold. This mining activity, while important for the local economy, also affected the river's environment.
A River's Journey
The Carnon River starts its flow near Chacewater. It winds its way through the Cornish landscape, collecting water from various smaller streams. These include the Trewedna Water and the River Kennall, which add to its volume. The river's path eventually leads it to merge with Tallack's Creek. This meeting point marks the beginning of Restronguet Creek, a wider body of water that connects to the sea.
Ancient Treasures from the Valley
Did you know that metals from the Carnon valley might have travelled far and wide, even thousands of years ago? The famous Nebra sky disc, an ancient bronze disc decorated with gold, was found in Germany. Scientists believe that the gold and tin used to make this disc came from the Carnon valley. This shows how important the area was for mining even in the Bronze Age.
Dealing with Pollution: A River's Recovery
In 1992, the Carnon River faced a big challenge. A large amount of water, containing substances from the old Wheal Jane mine, was accidentally released into the river. This made the river water turn red because of the metals in it.
However, people worked hard to fix the problem. A special treatment plant was built at Wheal Jane. This plant helps to clean the water before it enters the river. It removes harmful metals and makes the water less acidic. Thanks to these efforts, the river's health has been improving.
