Whiteadder Water facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Whiteadder Water |
|
|---|---|
The start of the Whiteadder river in May 2006
|
|
 Location of the confluence in Scotland
|
|
| Physical characteristics | |
| River mouth | Confluence with the River Tweed 55°45′35″N 2°02′42″W / 55.759731°N 2.044910°W |
The Whiteadder Water is a river that flows through parts of Scotland and England. It starts in the Lammermuir Hills in East Lothian, Scotland. The river then flows through Berwickshire in Scotland. For a very short distance, it also goes through Northumberland in England. Finally, the Whiteadder Water joins the larger River Tweed.
What's in a Name?
The name "Adder" in Whiteadder might come from old words meaning "a water channel" or "a stream." Some people think it could also come from a Scottish Gaelic phrase meaning "long water."
The River's Journey
The Whiteadder Water begins its journey on a small hill called Clints Dod. This hill is about 122 meters (400 feet) high. The river flows southeast for about 5 kilometers (3 miles). Here, it meets the Faseny Water.
When these two streams join, they form the Whiteadder Reservoir. This reservoir was built in 1968. It provides drinking water for many towns in East Lothian and Berwickshire.
From the reservoir, the river flows into Berwickshire. It runs next to the B6355 road. At a place called Ellemford, it joins the Dye Water. Further on, near Abbey St. Bathans, the Monynut Water adds to its flow.
By now, the Whiteadder has become a much bigger river. It winds its way through the eastern parts of a flat area called the Merse. It passes by communities like Preston, Chirnside, and Allanton. At Allanton, the Whiteadder meets another river, the Blackadder Water.
The river then continues past Foulden, Edrington, and Paxton. After Paxton, it crosses the border into England. Finally, it joins the River Tweed just north of East Ord, which is a part of Berwick-upon-Tweed.
Fun Facts and Wildlife
The Whiteadder Water is a great place for fishing. If you have a permit, you can catch salmon and trout here. There are several fishing clubs that let people enjoy this beautiful river.
One interesting fact is that the Ellem Angling Club, located on the Whiteadder, is the oldest fishing club in the world! It was started in 1829. This has even been confirmed by the Guinness Book of Records.
The river is also famous for being near Ninewells. This was the childhood home of David Hume, a very important Scottish thinker and writer from history.
The lowest part of the Whiteadder river is a special protected area. It's called a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This is because of the important plants and animals that live there. You can find water crowfoot plants, salmon, lamprey (a type of fish), and mute swans that come here to shed their feathers.
Images for kids
-
Shale rocks along the Whiteadder in April 2006
-
Whiteadder Water and Roughside Wood in February 2007
-
Whiteadder, downstream from Ellemford Bridge in February 2007
-
Whiteadder Water after heavy rain, showing runoff from the peat in the Lammermuir Hills in July 2007
-
Whiteadder Water running around Abbey St Bathans in March 2010
-
Chirnside Bridge over the Whiteadder in May 2010
