Waterworks River facts for kids
The Waterworks River is a special waterway in London. It's located in the London Borough of Newham. This river is part of a group called the Bow Back Rivers. These rivers all flow into the Bow Creek, which then joins the bigger River Lea. The River Lea eventually flows into the famous River Thames.
What is the Waterworks River?
This river is not natural. It's an artificial channel, meaning people dug it. It was created in 1743 for the Stratford Waterworks. This company later became the East London Waterworks Company. The river's job was to carry water from the Old River Lee channel. This water then went to a reservoir at Saynes Mill in Stratford.
How the River Was Made
In the 1930s, the Waterworks River was made much wider. It was expanded to about 100 feet (30.5 m) across. This big project helped to stop flooding in Stratford. For long parts of the river, its sides are lined with concrete slabs. However, sections that go through the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park look more natural. These parts were specially designed to blend with the landscape.
The River Today
The Waterworks River flows right through the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. This park was the main place for the 2012 Summer Olympics. As it goes through the park, the river creates a border. On one side is the London Aquatics Centre, where swimming events happened. On the other side is the Olympic Stadium, which hosted many big events.
