River Cary (Somerset) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids River Cary |
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| Country | England |
| County | Somerset |
| Region | Somerset Levels |
| City | Somerton, Somerset |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Park Pond Castle Cary, Somerset, England 51°05′12″N 2°30′49″W / 51.08667°N 2.51361°W |
| River mouth | River Parrett Dunball, Somerset, England 51°09′40″N 2°59′18″W / 51.16111°N 2.98833°W |
The River Cary is a river found in Somerset, England. It begins at Park Pond in Castle Cary and flows towards the southwest. It is an important part of the local landscape and helps drain the Somerset Levels.
Contents
What's in a Name?
The name Cary has a bit of a mystery around it. No one is completely sure where it came from!
- One idea is that it comes from a very old word, kar-. This word might mean "stony" or "hard".
- Another idea is that it comes from a Celtic word, car. This word means "dear" or "pleasant". For example, in Welsh, the word cari means "love".
The River's Journey
The River Cary starts its journey at Park Pond in Castle Cary. From there, it flows southwest through an area called Cary Moor.
Passing Through Babcary
The river reaches Babcary. Near here, you can find special natural areas called Babcary Meadows and Cary Fitzpaine. These are known as biological Sites of Special Scientific Interest. This means they are important places for plants and animals.
Heading Towards Somerton
Next, the river turns and flows northwest. It passes through Charlton Mackrell and then goes north of Somerton. Here, the river flows under the impressive Somerton Viaduct.
Draining the Moors
As the river continues, its path has been made straighter. This helps to drain the wet land around it, especially as it heads north towards Kings Sedge Moor. The Cary then crosses King's Sedgemoor, moving west across the moors. These moors are south of the Polden Hills.
Joining Other Waterways
Near a place called Henley, the River Cary connects with other waterways. These include the Sutton Moor Rhyne and the King's Sedgemoor Drain. Both of these are artificial channels built to help drain the wet land. A lot of the Cary's water now goes into the King's Sedgemoor Drain. This drain then continues across the moors until it joins the wide mouth of the River Parrett at Dunball.
River Care and Protection
Rivers are very important for nature and people. Keeping them clean is a big job.
A Past Incident
In 1995, there was a pollution problem in the River Cary near Somerton. Some chemicals, called lindane and mercury seed dressing, accidentally got into the river. These chemicals are used to treat seeds. It's important to be careful with such substances to protect our rivers and the wildlife that lives in them.
