Little Don River facts for kids
The Little Don River is a small river in South Yorkshire, England. It is also sometimes called the Porter. This river is a tributary of the River Don. This means it is a smaller river that flows into a larger one.
The Little Don River starts high up on the Langsett Moors. This area is part of the northern Peak District, a beautiful national park. As it flows, the river helps fill two important reservoirs: Langsett Reservoir and Underbank Reservoir. These reservoirs store water for people to use. The river then flows through the town of Stocksbridge before it joins the larger River Don.
A Special Place: Site of Scientific Interest
A small part of the Little Don River, about 1.1 hectares (which is like two football fields), is very special. Since 1977, this section has been called a Site of Special Scientific Interest (often shortened to SSSI).
Why is it a Site of Special Scientific Interest?
This part of the river is important for scientists. It helps them study the Earth's history, especially a time called the Carboniferous period. This period was millions of years ago when many of the world's coal deposits were formed. The rocks and features here give clues about what the Earth was like back then.
The Little Don River SSSI is one of 35 special sites in South Yorkshire. These sites are protected because they have important plants, animals, or geological features.
Images for kids
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The Little Don River entering a culvert (an underground tunnel) at the Stocksbridge steelworks.
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This weir (a small dam) above Langsett Reservoir used to stop trout from moving upstream. Now, there is a fish pass to help them.
