River Don, South Yorkshire Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids River Don, South Yorkshire
A footbridge, looking towards Newton
Country	England
Physical characteristics
River mouth	River Trent/River Ouse 53°41′49″N 0°52′01″W / 53.697°N 0.867°W / 53.697; -0.867
Length	70 miles (110 km)

The River Don is a famous river in South Yorkshire, England. It begins high up in the Pennines mountains. The river flows for about 70 miles (110 km) towards the east, through an area called the Don Valley.

A long time ago, the Don used to join the River Trent. But in the 1620s, people changed its path. Now, it connects with the River Ouse at Goole. This town is in the East Riding of Yorkshire.

The River's Journey
River Don's Branches and Name
Images for kids
See also

The River's Journey

The River Don changes as it flows. People have built different structures along its path. These structures help control the river's flow.

Upper River Section

In the upper part of the river, you will find dams. These dams were built to collect water. This water then provides a public water supply for homes and businesses.

Middle River Section

The middle part of the Don has many weirs. Weirs are like small waterfalls built across the river. They were used in the past to power water wheels. These wheels helped run factories and mills.

Lower River Section

The lower part of the river also has weirs. It also has locks. Locks are special sections of a river or canal. They allow boats to move between different water levels. These locks were built to help boats travel along the river.

River Don's Branches and Name

The River Don has several important branches. These are called tributaries. They flow into the main river. The major tributaries of the Don are the Loxley, the Rivelin, the Sheaf, the Rother, and the Dearne.

The name 'Don' comes from an old Celtic goddess. Her name was Dôn (or Danu). She was seen as a mother goddess. The river also gave its name to another river. This is the Don River in Ontario, Canada. It flows through the city of Toronto.