Corfe River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Corfe River |
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Mouth of Corfe River at Wych Lake
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| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | North Egliston, about 1.5 km W of Steeple, Isle of Purbeck 85 m (279 ft) 50°37′30″N 2°07′42″W / 50.62510°N 2.12821°W |
| River mouth | Wych Lake, Poole Harbour 0 m (0 ft) |
| Length | 8.805 km (5.471 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 33.922 km2 (13.097 sq mi) |
The Corfe River is a small but important river in Dorset, England. It is one of the four main rivers that flow into Poole Harbour, a large natural harbour on the south coast. The river is nearly 9 kilometres (about 5.5 miles) long. It plays a key role in the local environment and history of the Isle of Purbeck.
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What's in a Name? The Corfe River's History
The Corfe River has an old name that tells us a bit about its past. Long ago, when the Saxons lived in England, they called this river the Wichen. This ancient name still lives on in places nearby, like Wytch Farm, Upper Wych Channel, Wytch Heath, and Wych Lake.
The word wics (from which Wichen likely came) meant "dairy farm." This suggests that the area around the river might have once been used for farming cows and making dairy products, rather than being mostly heathland as it is today. It's cool how a name can give us clues about history!
Where Does the Corfe River Flow?
The Corfe River starts its journey near a place called North Egliston. This spot is about 1.5 kilometres (1 mile) west of a small village called Steeple. It begins its flow between the Purbeck Hills and the coastal ridge, which are like natural walls of land.
At first, the river flows east, heading towards the famous village of Corfe Castle. But just before it reaches the village, it makes a turn. It swings north-northeast, finding a path through a gap in the Purbeck Hills. This gap is between two hills called West Hill and East Hill.
The river then continues its journey across an area known as Wytch Heath. Finally, it empties into Wych (or Wytch) Lake. This lake is on the southern side of Poole Harbour, where the river's fresh water mixes with the harbour's salt water.
How Clean is the Corfe River's Water?
It's important for rivers to have good water quality, especially for the plants and animals that live in them. In 2013, the Environment Agency checked the water quality of the Corfe River. They found that the overall quality of the river's water was graded as "poor." This means there's work to be done to make sure the river is healthy for its ecosystem.
Images for kids
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Footpath bridge over the River Corfe
