Formosa Island facts for kids

The upstream tip of Formosa Island, showing the two water channels that flow around it.

Formosa Island is a lovely island located in the famous River Thames in England. You can find it near Cookham Lock and the village of Cookham in Berkshire. It's not alone; there are two smaller islands right next to it!

Discover Formosa Island

Formosa Island is one of the biggest islands on the non-tidal part of the River Thames. This means the water level here doesn't change with the ocean tides. The island is about 50 acres (which is like 38 football fields!) and is covered in beautiful woodland. It's a great place to explore nature.

How to Reach Formosa Island

A view from the bridge that connects to Formosa Island.

You can easily get to Formosa Island by walking across a special footbridge from Cookham. Imagine walking over the water to reach an island! It's a fun adventure for visitors.

Waterways Around the Island

Formosa Island sits between two of the four main water channels of the River Thames at Cookham. One channel, closest to Cookham, used to power a paper mill. This shows how rivers were once used for industry. The other channel leads to Odney Weir, which controls the water flow.

Nearby Islands and Channels

Right next to Formosa Island is Mill Island. This island has the main lock channel on its other side. A lock is like a water elevator that helps boats move between different water levels. Beyond the lock channel, you'll find Sashes Island. The channel furthest from Cookham is called Hedsor Water. This was the original path for boats before the lock was built.

A Bit of History

In 1830, a weir was built across Hedsor Water. A weir is a barrier that controls the flow of water. This change blocked the old navigation channel. When the Cookham Lock opened, it changed how boats traveled on the river. This also affected the trade for the person who owned the land at the time, Lord Boston.