River Dore facts for kids
The River Dore is a beautiful river located in Herefordshire, England. Its name in Welsh is Afon Aur, which means 'the river of gold'. This river is a tributary, meaning it's a smaller river that flows into a larger one. The River Dore flows into the River Monnow, which then joins the River Wye at Monmouth.
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Where the River Dore Flows
The River Dore begins its journey on Cusop Hill. This hill is found in the lower parts of the Black Mountains. It is also very close to the border between England and Wales.
The river flows for about 12 miles (19 kilometers). Along its path, it passes through several villages. These include Dorstone, Peterchurch, Vowchurch, Abbey Dore, and Pontrilas. Finally, it reaches the River Monnow near a place called Llangua.
The Meaning Behind the Name
The name "Dore" likely comes from an old Welsh word, dŵr. This word simply means "water". However, when the Normans arrived in England, they heard the name differently. They thought it sounded like the French words "d'or", which means "golden".
Because of this misunderstanding, the valley where the river flows became known as the "Golden Valley". So, the river's name has a cool story that mixes Welsh and Norman French history!
Wildlife in the River Dore
The River Dore is well-known for its excellent fishing. Many different types of fish live in its waters. You can find trout and grayling here, which are popular with anglers.
In 2006, a group called the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust started an important project. They worked to remove invasive mink from the river. Mink are animals that can harm local wildlife. After clearing the mink, they helped to bring back water voles. Water voles are small, furry animals that look a bit like large mice. They are an important part of the river's ecosystem.
The 2011 Drought
In October 2011, something unusual happened to the River Dore. A section of the river, about two miles long, completely dried up. This was because there had been very little rain. The spring and summer of 2011 were unusually dry.
Experts from the Environment Agency looked into why this happened. They believed that taking water out of the river (called abstraction) was not the main reason. Instead, they thought it was mostly due to the type of rocks and soil in the area. This, combined with the very low rainfall, caused the river to dry in that section.
