River Onny facts for kids
The River Onny is a beautiful river located in Shropshire, England. It is an important branch, also known as a tributary, of the larger River Teme.
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What's in a Name?
The name "Onny" comes from an old Welsh word. It means "the river where ash trees grew." Imagine a time when many ash trees lined the riverbanks!
Where Does the Onny Start and Go?
The River Onny begins its journey in the lovely Shropshire Hills. Its sources are found near a place called White Grit. The river actually starts as two smaller streams. These are called the East Onny and the West Onny.
These two branches meet up at a spot called Eaton. This is just east of Lydham. From there, the River Onny flows towards the southeast. It passes through towns like Craven Arms and Onibury. The village of Onibury even got its name from the river!
Finally, the River Onny joins the River Teme. This meeting point is near Ludlow at a place called Bromfield. The entire journey of the River Onny, from White Grit to Bromfield, is about 25 miles (40 km) long. That's quite a distance for a river!
Onny's Connection to Other Rivers
The River Onny is part of a bigger river system. After joining the River Teme, the Teme itself flows into the mighty River Severn. This happens just south of Worcester. The River Severn is one of England's longest rivers. It then continues its journey south-west. Eventually, the River Severn reaches the sea at the Bristol Channel.
Ancient Life Along the Onny
The area around the River Onny is special for scientists. Geologists study the rocks here. They have found rocks from a very old time called the Ordovician period. This period was millions of years ago!
In these ancient rocks, scientists discovered fossils of tiny sea creatures. These creatures are called trilobites. One type of trilobite was first found here. It was named Onnia, after the river itself! This shows how important the River Onny area is for understanding Earth's past.
