River Brit facts for kids
Quick facts for kids River Brit |
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River Brit at Palmers Brewery, Bridport
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 Location within Dorset
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| Country | England |
| County | Dorset |
| District | West Dorset |
| Towns and villages | West Bay, Bridport, Netherbury, Beaminster |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Beaminster Dorset, England |
| River mouth | West Bay, West Dorset, Dorset, England 50°42′32″N 2°45′50″W / 50.7089°N 2.7638°W |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries |
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The River Brit is a lovely river in west Dorset, a county in south-west England. It starts its journey just north of a town called Beaminster. From there, it flows south through villages like Netherbury and then reaches the town of Bridport.
As the River Brit flows, it is joined by two smaller rivers, called tributaries. These are the River Simene and the River Asker. After passing Bridport, the river continues south until it reaches Lyme Bay. This bay is part of the English Channel coast, and the river meets the sea at a place called West Bay. The River Brit is about 15.17 kilometers (9.43 miles) long.
Where Did the River Brit Get Its Name?
The River Brit gets its name from the town of Bridport, which it flows through. Interestingly, the town's name actually came from a nearby river, the River Bride. This other river is to the east and was important in Bridport's early history.
Before Bridport was established, the River Brit had a different name: the River Wooth. You can still see this old name in places nearby, like Wooth Manor and Camesworth. These names remind us of the river's past.
Amazing Wildlife in the River Brit
The River Brit is home to many interesting plants and animals. You might spot plants like Indian balsam growing along its banks. In the past, the river had some pollution from local industries and waste, but things have gotten much better recently.
Fish and Other River Creatures
Today, the river is healthy enough for different types of fish to live there. You can find stone loach, brown trout, and small minnows swimming in the water. These fish are an important food source for other wildlife.
If you are lucky, you might see beautiful kingfishers diving for fish or playful otters enjoying the river. The water is clean enough to support young salmon (called parr) and sea trout. These young fish live in the river for two to five years. Then, they change into smolt and swim out to sea. To help them on their journey, special fish passes have been built in the river.
