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River Mersey facts for kids

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River Mersey
Liverpool skyline from the Mersey Ferry - 2012-05-27.JPG
The River Mersey at Liverpool, looking towards the Royal Liver Building
River Mersey map.png
The River Mersey is highlighted in red
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Coordinates: 53°27′00″N 3°01′59″W / 53.45°N 3.033°W / 53.45; -3.033
Country England
Counties Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Merseyside
City Liverpool, Manchester
Physical characteristics
Main source (source of the River Tame)
west of Buckstones Moss, West Yorkshire
1,552 ft (473 m)
53°37′07″N 2°00′13″W / 53.6187°N 2.0035°W / 53.6187; -2.0035
2nd source (confluence of Tame and Goyt)
Stockport, Greater Manchester
130 ft (40 m)
53°24′51″N 2°09′23″W / 53.4143°N 2.1565°W / 53.4143; -2.1565
River mouth Liverpool Bay
Length 70 mi (112 km)
Basin features
Basin size 1,810 sq mi (4,680 km2)
Designation
Official name: Mersey Estuary
Designated: 20 December 1995
Reference #: 785

The River Mersey is a river in north west England. It is 70 miles (112 km) long, it stretches from Stockport, Greater Manchester, and ends at Liverpool Bay, Merseyside. For centuries, it formed part of the ancient county divide between Lancashire and Cheshire.

Course

The Mersey is formed from three tributaries: the River Etherow, the River Goyt and the River Tame. The modern accepted start of the Mersey is at the confluence of the Tame and Goyt, in central Stockport, Greater Manchester. However, older definitions, and many older maps, place its start a few miles up the Goyt; for example the 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica states "It is formed by the junction of the Goyt and the Etherow a short distance below Marple in Cheshire on the first-named stream."

Environment

Water quality in the River Mersey has been severely affected by industrialisation.

But Salmon are now found in the river. They can be viewed on the Salmon Steps at Woolston between the months of September and November.

In popular culture

The river is now internationally famous thanks to the music of the 1960s known as Merseybeat and its strong association with Liverpool, which produced songs such as Ferry Cross the Mersey.

Also, Paul McCartney's 2007 song That Was Me, from his album Memory Almost Full mentions merseybeating with the band.

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See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Río Mersey para niños

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