River Mersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids River Mersey |
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The River Mersey at Liverpool, looking towards the Royal Liver Building
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The River Mersey is highlighted in red
Click to enlarge map Coordinates: 53°27′00″N 3°01′59″W / 53.45°N 3.033°W |
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| Country | England |
| Counties | Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Merseyside |
| City | Liverpool, Manchester |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | (source of the River Tame) west of Buckstones Moss, West Yorkshire 1,552 ft (473 m) 53°37′07″N 2°00′13″W / 53.6187°N 2.0035°W |
| 2nd source | (confluence of Tame and Goyt) Stockport, Greater Manchester 130 ft (40 m) 53°24′51″N 2°09′23″W / 53.4143°N 2.1565°W |
| River mouth | Liverpool Bay |
| Length | 70 mi (112 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 1,810 sq mi (4,680 km2) |
| Designation | |
| Official name: Mersey Estuary | |
| Designated: | 20 December 1995 |
| Reference #: | 785 |
The River Mersey is an important river in North West England. It flows for about 112 kilometers (70 miles). The river starts in Stockport, Greater Manchester, and finishes at Liverpool Bay near Liverpool. For a very long time, it was a natural border between the old counties of Lancashire and Cheshire.
Contents
Where the Mersey Flows
The River Mersey is created from three smaller rivers, called tributaries. These are the River Etherow, the River Goyt, and the River Tame. Today, people usually say the Mersey officially begins where the River Tame and River Goyt meet. This meeting point is in central Stockport, Greater Manchester.
However, some older maps and definitions say the Mersey starts a bit further up the River Goyt. For example, the 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica said it formed where the Goyt and Etherow joined, a short distance below Marple.
River Health and Wildlife
For many years, the water quality in the River Mersey was very bad. This was because of all the factories and industries that grew up along its banks.
But now, things are much better! Salmon fish have returned to the river. You can even see them at the Salmon Steps in Woolston. They are usually there between September and November.
The Mersey in Pop Culture
The River Mersey became famous around the world because of the music from the 1960s. This music style was called Merseybeat. It was strongly connected to the city of Liverpool.
Many popular songs came from this time, like Ferry Cross the Mersey. Also, Paul McCartney mentioned "Merseybeating with the band" in his 2007 song That Was Me. This song is from his album Memory Almost Full.
Images for kids
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The River Mersey empties into the Manchester Ship Canal at Irlam
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Aerial view of the Runcorn Gap
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View of the Mersey Gateway bridge
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Ferry across the Mersey, June 2005
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RiverMerseyEggBuoy.jpg
Egg Buoy near Egremont, Wallasey
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The River Tame (left) and the River Goyt (right) meeting to form the Mersey in Stockport
See also
In Spanish: Río Mersey para niños
