River Lee Diversion facts for kids
The River Lee Diversion is a special waterway in the Lea Valley. It's found near Enfield Lock and close to the King George V Reservoir. This river was built to help manage water in the area.
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Why the River Was Built
The River Lee Diversion was created for an important reason. Its name tells us it was "diverted," meaning its path was changed. This happened to make space for big water storage areas called the Chingford Reservoirs and the Banbury Reservoir. So, the river was moved to help build these large reservoirs.
Where the River Flows
The River Lee Diversion starts its journey by the King George V Reservoir. Here, another river, the Lee Flood Relief Channel, joins it. This man-made river has steep banks made of concrete.
It flows under Lea Valley Road, which is also known as the A110 road. After this, it runs alongside the William Girling Reservoir. The river then goes under the North Circular Road at a place called the Lea Valley Viaduct.
Next, it flows around the western side of the Banbury Reservoir. It then runs close to the River Lee Navigation, which is a canal. It passes by Lockwood Reservoir, Stonebridge Lock, and Tottenham Lock. Finally, it joins the River Lee Navigation again near Ferry Lane (A503 road).
How the River Helps with Water
The River Lee Diversion plays a key role in providing water. It sends water to some of the large reservoirs in the Lee Valley Reservoir Chain. These reservoirs store water for people to use.
Animals and Plants in the River
The water in the River Lee Diversion is clean and moves quickly. It also has a lot of oxygen. These conditions are perfect for a type of fish called the barbel. Barbel are strong fish that like fast-flowing water.
You might also spot a bird called a goosander here. Goosanders are diving ducks that love to eat fish. They can often be seen hunting for food in the river.
Visiting the River
It can be tricky to get close to the River Lee Diversion. Most of the river flows through land owned by Thames Water. This means that public access to the riverbanks is limited in many places.
Images for kids
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The river viewed from the A110 Lea Valley Road in Chingford
