River Manifold facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Manifold |
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Manifold Valley from Thor's Cave
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| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | South of Buxton near Axe Edge |
| River mouth | Confluence with the Dove 53°3′0″N 1°47′5″W / 53.05000°N 1.78472°W |
| Length | 12 miles (19 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Dove—Trent—Humber—North Sea |
| Basin size | 9,111 hectares (22,510 acres) |
| Tributaries |
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The River Manifold is a cool river in Staffordshire, England. It flows into the River Dove, which also runs through the beautiful Peak District. The Dove forms the border between Derbyshire and Staffordshire.
The Manifold starts near Buxton at a place called Flash Head. This area is at the northern edge of the White Peak, which is famous for its limestone rocks. The river travels about 12 miles (19 km) (19 km) before it joins the River Dove.
For part of its journey, the Manifold flows underground! This happens from Wetton Mill to Ilam. You can only see it above ground when there's a lot of rain. While underground, it's joined by its main branch, the River Hamps. Some villages along the river include Longnor, Hulme End, and Ilam. The river's name might come from an old Anglo-Saxon word meaning "many folds," because of its many bends.
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Exploring the Manifold Way
The Manifold Way is a special path that's 8-mile (13 km) (13 km) long. It goes from Hulme End to Waterhouses. This path follows the old route of a small railway line. The railway was called the Leek and Manifold Valley Light Railway. It ran from 1904 to 1934.
The path was opened in July 1937. It's a great place for walking and cycling because it's paved all the way. You can visit the Manifold Valley Visitor Centre at Hulme End Station. Inside, there's even a model of the old railway!
Amazing Limestone Cliffs and Caves
The Manifold Valley is surrounded by tall limestone cliffs. These cliffs are popular for rock climbing. They also have some famous rock formations and caves. Two well-known spots are Thor's Cave and Beeston Tor. Beeston Tor is a large rock that looks over where the River Manifold meets the River Hamps.
Mining History in the Manifold Valley
The Manifold valley was once very important for mining. People dug for copper and lead here. The mines at Ecton were some of the richest in the country. Tools from the Stone Age have been found in some caves. This suggests that people were mining minerals here thousands of years ago.
Today, you can't see much of the mining industry. But it made many people rich, especially the Duke of Devonshire, who owned the Ecton mines. The main places to see old mining history are around Ecton. You can still find old piles of waste rock (called spoil banks) and the remains of the old engine house there.
River Life: Animals of the Manifold
The River Manifold is home to some interesting fish. These include the European bullhead and the lamprey. In the part of the river that flows underground and then comes back up at Ilam, the bullhead fish have no color. This is because they live in darkness.
The river used to have a lot of white-clawed crayfish. But in 2008, most of them were wiped out by a disease called crayfish plague. Luckily, some crayfish have been seen in the smaller streams that flow into the Manifold. People hope that these surviving crayfish will help the river's population grow back.
