England - Rivers, Coastline, Estuaries

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The Tyne, Tees, Swale, Aire, Don, and Trent rise in the Pennines, flow eastward, and have a long course to the North Sea. The Welland, Nen, and Great Ouse rise in the northeastern edge of the Cotswolds and empty into the Wash estuary, which forms part of the North Sea. 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The Eden, Ribble, and Mersey rise in the Pennines, flow westward, and have a short course to the Atlantic Ocean. The Tyne, Tees, Swale, Aire, Don, and Trent rise in the Pennines, flow eastward, and have a long course to the North Sea. The Welland, Nen, and Great Ouse rise in the northeastern edge of the Cotswolds and empty into the Wash estuary, which forms part of the North Sea. The Welland river valley forms part of the rich"/> <meta property="og:type" content="ARTICLE"/> <meta property="og:title" content="England - Rivers, Coastline, Estuaries | Britannica"/> <meta property="og:description" content="England - Rivers, Coastline, Estuaries: The Pennines, the Cotswolds, and the moors and chalk downs of southern England serve as watersheds for most of England’s rivers. The Eden, Ribble, and Mersey rise in the Pennines, flow westward, and have a short course to the Atlantic Ocean. The Tyne, Tees, Swale, Aire, Don, and Trent rise in the Pennines, flow eastward, and have a long course to the North Sea. The Welland, Nen, and Great Ouse rise in the northeastern edge of the Cotswolds and empty into the Wash estuary, which forms part of the North Sea. The Welland river valley forms part of the rich"/> <meta property="og:site_name" content="Encyclopedia Britannica" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://www.britannica.com/place/England"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn.britannica.com/44/344-050-94536674/Flag-England.jpg" /> <meta property="og:image:type" content="image/jpeg" /> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="init opengraph"> Mendel.openGraph = {"type":"ARTICLE","title":"England - Rivers, Coastline, Estuaries","description":"England - Rivers, Coastline, Estuaries: The Pennines, the Cotswolds, and the moors and chalk downs of southern England serve as watersheds for most of England’s rivers. 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class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-blue " aria-label="Next"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span> </button> </div> </div> </div> <main> <div class="md-page-wrapper"> <div id="content" class="md-content"> <div class="md-article-container template-desktop infinite-pagination"> <div class="infinite-scroll-container article last"> <article class="article-content container-lg qa-content px-0 pt-0 pb-40 py-lg-20 content md-expanded" data-topic-id="700965"> <div class="grid gx-0"> <div class="col-auto"> <div class="topic-left-rail md-article-drawer position-relative d-flex border-right-sm border-left-sm open"> <div class="drawer d-flex flex-column open"> <div class="left-rail-section-content"> <div class="topic-left-rail-header text-truncate bg-gray-50 position-relative text-right d-flex align-items-center"> <div class="tlr-title px-20 py-15 text-left"> <em class="material-icons text-gray-400 d-lg-none" data-icon="toc"></em> <a class="font-serif font-weight-bold text-black link-blue" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/England">England</a> </div> <button aria-label="Close" class="js-sections-close-button btn-link btn-sm btn d-lg-none position-absolute top-0 p-10 right-0" > <em class="material-icons font-26" data-icon="close"></em> </button> </div> <div class="section-content pl-10 pr-20 pl-sm-50 pr-sm-60 pl-lg-5 pr-lg-10 pt-10 pt-lg-0 bg-gray-50 clear-catfish-ad"> <div class="toc mb-20"> <div class="font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-15 mb-15 mt-20"> Table of Contents </div> <ul class="list-unstyled my-0" data-level="h1"><li data-target="#ref1"><div class="pl-25"><a class="link-gray-900 w-100" href="/place/England">Introduction & Quick Facts</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref44500"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England#ref44500">Land</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref44501"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England#ref44501">Relief</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref44502"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Drainage">Drainage</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref44503"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Drainage#ref44503">Soils</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref44504"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Drainage#ref44504">Climate</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref44505"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Drainage#ref44505">Plant and animal life</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref44507"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/People">People</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref44508"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/People#ref44508">Ethnic groups and languages</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref44518"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/People#ref44518">Religion</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref225309"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/People#ref225309">Settlement patterns</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref44509"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Traditional-regions">Traditional regions</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref44510"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Traditional-regions#ref44510">The South West</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref44511"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Traditional-regions#ref44511">The South East</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref44512"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Traditional-regions#ref44512">The West Midlands</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref44513"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/The-East-Midlands">The East Midlands</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref44514"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/The-East-Midlands#ref44514">East Anglia</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref44515"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/The-East-Midlands#ref44515">The North West</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref44516"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/The-East-Midlands#ref44516">Yorkshire</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref44517"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/The-East-Midlands#ref44517">The North East</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref44519"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/The-East-Midlands#ref44519">Demographic trends</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref44520"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Economy">Economy</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref44522"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Economy#ref44522">Agriculture, forestry, and fishing</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref44523"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Economy#ref44523">Major crops</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref44525"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Economy#ref44525">Livestock</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref44526"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Economy#ref44526">Forestry</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref44527"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Economy#ref44527">Fishing</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref44521"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Resources-and-power">Resources and power</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref44528"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Resources-and-power#ref44528">Manufacturing</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref225310"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Resources-and-power#ref225310">Finance</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref215125"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Resources-and-power#ref215125">Services</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref44529"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Resources-and-power#ref44529">Transportation</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref44530"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Government-and-society">Government and society</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref225311"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Government-and-society#ref225311">Constitutional framework</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref215126"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Government-and-society#ref215126">Local government</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref215127"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Government-and-society#ref215127">Historic counties</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref215128"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Geographic-counties">Geographic counties</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref215129"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Geographic-counties#ref215129">Administrative counties and districts</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref215130"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Geographic-counties#ref215130">Unitary authorities</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref215131"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Geographic-counties#ref215131">Metropolitan counties and districts</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref215132"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Geographic-counties#ref215132">Greater London</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref215133"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Geographic-counties#ref215133">Parishes and towns</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref44532"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Justice">Justice</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref225312"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Justice#ref225312">Political process</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref44534"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Justice#ref44534">Health and welfare</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref225313"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Housing">Housing</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref44533"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Housing#ref44533">Education</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref44535"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Cultural-life">Cultural life</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref225314"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Cultural-life#ref225314">Daily life and social customs</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref225315"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/The-arts">The arts</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref44536"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/The-arts#ref44536">Literature</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref44537"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Architecture">Architecture</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref44538" class="has-children"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Visual-arts">Visual arts</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref44539"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Visual-arts#ref44539">Sculpture</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref44540"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Visual-arts#ref44540">Painting</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref44541" class="has-children"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Performing-arts">Performing arts</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref44542"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Performing-arts#ref44542">Theatre</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref44543"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Performing-arts#ref44543">Film</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref44544"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Music">Music</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref44545"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Music#ref44545">Dance</a></li></ul></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref44546"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Cultural-institutions">Cultural institutions</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref44547"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Cultural-institutions#ref44547">Sports and recreation</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref225316"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Cultural-institutions#ref225316">Media and publishing</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref215134"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><div class="ml-25"></div><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/History">History</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li></ul> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/England/additional-info">References & Edit History</a> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="/facts/England">Facts & Stats</a> </div> <div class="tlr-media-slider pb-10 mb-30"> <a class="section-header link-gray-900 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mb-10 mx-10" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/England/images-videos">Images & Videos</a> <div class="slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100 "> <div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex overflow-hidden text-nowrap ml-15"> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/44/344-050-94536674/Flag-England.jpg" data-href="/media/1/700965/61159" class="media-overlay-link 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Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). </div> <div class="type-menu"> <label for="feedback-type" class="label mb-10">Feedback Type</label> <select id="feedback-type" class="form-select mb-30" name="feedbackTypeId" required> <option value="" selected="selected">Select a type (Required)</option> <option value="1">Factual Correction</option> <option value="2">Spelling/Grammar Correction</option> <option value="3">Link Correction</option> <option value="4">Additional Information</option> <option value="5">Other</option> </select> </div> <label for="feedback" class="label mb-10">Your Feedback</label> <textarea id="feedback" class="form-control mb-30" name="feedback" maxlength="3000" rows="7" required></textarea> <button class="btn btn-blue" type="submit">Submit Feedback</button> </form> <div class="success-messaging d-none mt-30"> <div class="title">Thank you for your feedback</div> <p>Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="md-websites-modal size-lg d-none"> <div class="md-modal-body"> <div class="h2 font-serif pb-15 border-bottom font-weight-bold"> External Websites </div> <div class="pb-20"> <ul class="list-unstyled mt-20 lh-lg"> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/learn/story-of-england/" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">English Heritage - Story of England</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.ancient-origins.net/ancient-places-europe/kingdom-wessex-0017010" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Ancient Origins - The Kingdom of Wessex and the Birth of England</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="md-websites-ebk-title">Britannica Websites</div> <div class="md-websites-ebk-subtitle">Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.</div> <ul class="list-unstyled bps-topic-web-sites lh-lg"> <li><a class="external" href="https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/England/353101" target="_blank" rel="noopener">England - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/England/274182" target="_blank" rel="noopener">England - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="toc-header-marker"></div> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 js-header-ai-ask-button d-none btn-sm btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 mr-0 mr-lg-10 ml-5 ml-sm-10 ml-lg-0 p-10"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> <div class="md-byline module-spacing "> <div class="font-serif font-12"> <span class="written-by text-gray-700"> Written by </span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor" href="/contributor/Peter-Kellner/5078" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">Peter Kellner</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 clamp-description text-black">Peter Kellner is the former president of YouGov PLC and the author of <em>Democracy: 1,000 Years in Pursuit of British Liberty</em> and others.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> Peter Kellner</span>, <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor" href="/contributor/William-Harford-Thomas/2950" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">William Harford Thomas</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 clamp-description text-black">Journalist. Former Deputy Editor, <i>The Guardian, </i>London. Author of <i>Crisis in the British Press.</i></div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> William Harford Thomas</span><span class="text-gray-700 mx-5">•</span><a class="see-all border-gray-700 gtm-byline" rel="nofollow" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/England/additional-info#contributors">All</a> </div> <div class="font-serif font-12 text-gray-700"> <span class="qa-fact-checked-by">Fact-checked by</span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 font-12" href="/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 text-black">Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link font-12 "> The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div> <div class="last-updated font-12 font-serif"> <span class="text-gray-700"> Last Updated: <time datetime="2024-11-23T00:00:00CST" >Nov 23, 2024</time> •</span> <a class="byline-edit-history" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/England/additional-info#history" rel="nofollow">Article History</a> </div></div> </div> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button d-none d-sm-block js-sections-inline-button module-spacing btn d-lg-none"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <div class="d-flex d-sm-none flex-row"> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button js-sections-inline-button module-spacing"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 ai-ask-button btn border-2 module-spacing btn-sm js-inline-ai-ask-button btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 p-10 ml-5"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> </div> <div class="bg-gray-50 p-15 rounded module-spacing recent-news d-flex flex-column float-false"> <div> <h2 class="font-weight-bold font-14 m-0 d-inline"> News <span class="text-gray-600">•</span> </h2> <div class="recent-news-item first-recent-news-item d-inline"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="/news/700965/b2598adb141d529df1ed0a1beec0a450" rel="nofollow">Man City's statistics hit new low after Tottenham humiliation</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Nov. 23, 2024, 3:31 PM ET (AP) <button class="btn btn-link d-inline p-0 font-12 js-toggle-recent-news"> <span class="text-gray-500">...</span><span>(Show more)</span> </button> </span> </div> </div> <div class="rest-of-recent-news-items"> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="/news/700965/18dd0af292ca9aa705366c52de8f2585" rel="nofollow">Guardiola signs a 2-year contract extension at Man City and eyes 'more trophies'</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Nov. 21, 2024, 6:38 PM ET (AP) </span> </div> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="/news/700965/dc3fd3640acb1628cd85d43b8413fad0" rel="nofollow">Thousands of UK farmers descend on Parliament to protest a tax they say will ruin family farms</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Nov. 19, 2024, 11:46 AM ET (AP) </span> </div> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="/news/700965/dce7600e0dba5de59b68bf379307ef9c" rel="nofollow">Poultry infected with bird flu found on commercial farm in England</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Nov. 17, 2024, 6:17 PM ET (AP) </span> </div> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="/news/700965/79b3a833485e0dd5c9ab4314a112d01f" rel="nofollow">Man and four teenagers convicted of murdering two boys in mistaken identity case</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Nov. 15, 2024, 11:51 AM ET (AP) </span> </div> <button class="js-toggle-recent-news d-flex btn btn-unstyled font-14 pr-10 rounded-sm mt-10" aria-label="Toggle additional news items"> Show less <em class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_less"></em> </button> </div> </div><span class="marker before-article"></span><section data-level="1"><span class="marker before-article"></span><section data-level="2" id="ref44502"><span class="marker PREMOD1 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The <span id="ref483698"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Pennines" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Pennines</a>, the <span id="ref715645"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Cotswolds" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Cotswolds</a>, and the <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="moors" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/moors" data-type="EB">moors</a> and chalk downs of southern England serve as watersheds for most of England’s rivers. The <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/River-Eden" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Eden</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/River-Ribble" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Ribble</a>, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/River-Mersey-England" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Mersey</a> rise in the Pennines, flow westward, and have a short course to the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Atlantic-Ocean" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Atlantic Ocean</a>. The <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/River-Tyne" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Tyne</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/River-Tees" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Tees</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/River-Swale" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Swale</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/River-Aire" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Aire</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/River-Don-England" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Don</a>, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/River-Trent" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Trent</a> rise in the Pennines, flow eastward, and have a long course to the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/North-Sea" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">North Sea</a>. The <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/River-Welland" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Welland</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/River-Nen" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Nen</a>, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/River-Ouse-eastern-England" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Great Ouse</a> rise in the northeastern edge of the Cotswolds and empty into the Wash estuary, which forms part of the North Sea. The Welland river valley forms part of the rich agricultural land of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Lincolnshire" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Lincolnshire</a>. The <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/River-Thames" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Thames</a>, the longest river in England, also rises in the Cotswolds and drains a large part of southeastern England. From the moors and chalk downs of southern England rise the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/River-Tamar-England" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Tamar</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/River-Exe" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Exe</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/River-Stour" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Stour</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/River-Avon-southern-England" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Avon</a>, Test, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Arun-district-England" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Arun</a>, and Ouse. All flow into the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/English-Channel" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">English Channel</a> and in some instances help to form a pleasing landscape along the coast. England’s largest lake is <span id="ref483699"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Windermere" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Windermere</a>, with an area of 6 square miles (16 square km), located in the county of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Cumbria" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Cumbria</a>.</p><span class="marker MOD1 mod-inline"></span></section> <section data-level="2" id="ref44503"><h2 class="h2">Soils</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD2 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">In journeys of only a few miles it is possible to pass through a <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="succession" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/succession" data-type="EB">succession</a> of different soil structures—such as from chalk down to alluvial river valley, from <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/limestone" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">limestone</a> to <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/sandstone" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">sandstone</a> and acid heath, and from clay to sand—each type of soil bearing its own class of vegetation. The Cumbrian Mountains and most of the southwestern peninsula have acid brown soils. The eastern section of the Pennines has soils ranging from brown earths to podzols. Leached brown soils predominate in much of southern England. Acid soils and podzols occur in the southeast. Regional characteristics, however, are important. Black soil covers the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Fens" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Fens</a> in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Cambridgeshire" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Cambridgeshire</a> and Norfolk; clay soil predominates in the hills of the Weald (in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/East-Sussex" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">East Sussex</a> and West Sussex); and the chalk downs, especially the North Downs of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Kent-historical-kingdom-England" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Kent</a>, are covered by a variety of stiff, brown clay, with sharp angular flints. Fine-grained deposits of alluvium occur in the floodplains, and fine marine silt occurs around the Wash estuary.</p><span class="marker MOD2 mod-inline"></span></section> <section data-level="2" id="ref44504"><h2 class="h2">Climate</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD3 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Weather in England is as variable as the <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="topography" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/topography" data-type="MW">topography</a>. As in other temperate maritime zones, the averages are moderate, ranging in the Thames river valley from about 35 °F (2 °C) in January to 72 °F (22 °C) in July; but the extremes in England range from below 0 °F (−18 °C) to above 90 °F (32 °C). The Roman historian <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Tacitus-Roman-historian" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Tacitus</a> recorded that the climate was “objectionable, with frequent rains and mists, but no extreme cold.” Yet snow covers the higher elevations of England about 50 days per year. England is known as a wet country, and this is certainly true in the northwest and southwest. However, the northeastern and central regions receive less than 30 inches (750 mm) of rainfall annually and frequently suffer from <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="drought" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/drought" data-type="EB">drought</a>. In parts of the southeast the annual rainfall averages only 20 inches (500 mm). <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Charles-II-king-of-Great-Britain-and-Ireland" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Charles II</a> thought that the English climate was the best in the world—“a man can enjoy outdoor exercise in all but five days of the year.” But no one would dispute that it is unpredictable: hence Dr. <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Samuel-Johnson" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Samuel Johnson</a>’s observation that “when two Englishmen meet their first talk is of the weather.” This changeability of the weather, not only season by season but day by day and even hour by hour, has had a profound effect on English art and literature. Not for nothing has the bumbershoot been the stereotypical <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/walkingstick" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">walking stick</a> of the English gentleman.</p><span class="marker MOD3 mod-inline"></span></section> <section data-level="2" id="ref44505"><h2 class="h2">Plant and animal life</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD4 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">England shares with the rest of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Great-Britain-island-Europe" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Britain</a> a <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="diminished" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/diminished" data-type="EB">diminished</a> spectrum of vegetation and living creatures, partly because the island was separated from the mainland of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Europe" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Europe</a> soon after much of it had been swept bare by the last glacial period and partly because the land has been so industriously worked by humans. For example, a drastic depletion of mature broad-leaved forests, especially <a href="https://www.britannica.com/plant/oak" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">oak</a>, was a result of the overuse of timber in the iron and shipbuilding industries. Today only a small part of the English countryside is woodland. Broad-leaved (oak, beech, ash, birch, and elm) and conifer (pine, fir, spruce, and larch) trees dominate the landscapes of Kent, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Surrey-county-England" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Surrey</a>, East Sussex, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/West-Sussex" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">West Sussex</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Suffolk-county-England" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Suffolk</a>, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Hampshire-county-England" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Hampshire</a>. Important forests include Ashdown in East Sussex, Epping and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Hatfield-England" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Hatfield</a> in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Essex-Anglo-Saxon-kingdom-England" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Essex</a>, Dean in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Gloucestershire" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Gloucestershire</a>, Sherwood in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Nottinghamshire" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Nottinghamshire</a>, Grizedale in Cumbria, and Redesdale, Kielder, and Wark in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Northumberland-county-England" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Northumberland</a>. A substantial amount of England’s forestland is privately owned. Vegetation patterns have been further modified through overgrazing, forest clearance, reclamation and drainage of marshlands, and the introduction of exotic plant species. Though there are fewer species of plants than in the European mainland, they nevertheless span a wide range and include some rarities. Certain Mediterranean species exist in the sheltered and almost subtropical valleys of the southwest, while tundra-like vegetation is found in parts of the moorland of the northeast. England has a profusion of summer wildflowers in its fields, lanes, and hedgerows, though in some areas these have been severely reduced by the use of herbicides on farms and roadside verges. <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="Cultivated" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Cultivated" data-type="MW">Cultivated</a> gardens, which contain many species of trees, shrubs, and flowering plants from around the world, account for much of the varied vegetation of the country.</p><span class="marker MOD4 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD5 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Mammal species such as the bear, wolf, and beaver were exterminated in historic times, but others such as the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/fallow-deer" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">fallow deer</a>, rabbit, and rat have been introduced. More recently <span id="ref483700"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/bird-animal" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">birds</a> of prey have suffered at the hands of farmers protecting their stock and their game birds. Protective measures have been <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="implemented" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/implemented" data-type="MW">implemented</a>, including a law restricting the collecting of birds’ eggs, and some of the less common birds have been reestablishing themselves. The bird life is unusually varied, mainly because England lies along the route of bird migrations. Some birds have found town gardens, where they are often fed, to be a favourable <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="environment" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/environment" data-type="MW">environment</a>, and in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/London" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">London</a> about 100 different species are recorded annually. London also is a habitat <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="conducive" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conducive" data-type="MW">conducive</a> to foxes, which in small numbers have colonized woods and heaths within a short distance of the city centre. There are few kinds of reptiles and amphibians—about half a dozen species of each—but they are nearly all plentiful where conditions suit them. <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Freshwater-England" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Freshwater</a> fish are numerous; the char and allied species of the lakes of Cumbria probably represent an ancient group, related to the trout, that migrated to the sea before the tectonic changes that formed these lakes cut off their outlet. The marine fishes are abundant in species and in absolute numbers. The great <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="diversity" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diversity" data-type="MW">diversity</a> of shorelines produces habitats for numerous types of invertebrate animals.</p><div class="module-spacing"> </div><span class="marker MOD5 mod-inline"></span></section></section><span class="marker end-of-content"></span><span class="marker after-article"></span></div> <div id="chatbot-root"></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ai-dialog-placeholder"></div> </div> </div> <aside class="col-md-da-320"></aside> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article></div> </div></div> </div> </main> <div id="md-footer"></div> <noscript><iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5W6NC8" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript> <script type="text/javascript" id="_informizely_script_tag"> var IzWidget = IzWidget || {}; (function (d) { var scriptElement = d.createElement('script'); scriptElement.type = 'text/javascript'; scriptElement.async = true; scriptElement.src = "https://insitez.blob.core.windows.net/site/f780f33e-a610-4ac2-af81-3eb184037547.js"; var node = d.getElementById('_informizely_script_tag'); node.parentNode.insertBefore(scriptElement, node); } )(document); </script>  <script> window.ap3c = window.ap3c || {}; var ap3c = window.ap3c; ap3c.cmd = ap3c.cmd || []; ap3c.cmd.push(function() { ap3c.init('ZO4siT4cLwnykPnzZWJtd3Byb2Q', 'https://engage.email.britannica.com/'); ap3c.track({v: 0}); }); ap3c.activity = function(act) { ap3c.act = (ap3c.act || []); ap3c.act.push(act); }; var s, t; s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = "https://engage.email.britannica.com/app.js"; t = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; t.parentNode.insertBefore(s, t); </script> <script class="marketing-page-info" type="application/json"> {"pageType":"Topic","templateName":"DESKTOP","pageNumber":2,"pagesTotal":19,"pageId":700965,"pageLength":1126,"initialLoad":true,"lastPageOfScroll":false} </script> <script class="marketing-content-info" type="application/json"> [] </script> <script src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/js/libs/jquery-3.5.0.min.js?v=3.130.14"></script> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel Code Splitting"> (function() { $.ajax({ dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: 'https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/dist/topic-page.js?v=3.130.14' }); })(); </script> <script class="analytics-metadata" type="application/json"> {"leg":"D","adLeg":"D","userType":"ANONYMOUS","pageType":"Topic","pageSubtype":null,"articleTemplateType":"STATE_PAGINATED","gisted":false,"pageNumber":2,"hasSummarizeButton":false,"hasAskButton":false} </script> <script type="text/javascript"> EBStat={accountId:-1,hostnameOverride:'webstats.eb.com',domain:'www.britannica.com', json:''}; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> ( function() { $.ajax( { dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: '//www.britannica.com/webstats/mendelstats.js?v=1' } ) .done( function() { try {writeStat(null,EBStat);} catch(err){} } ); })(); </script> <div id="bc-fixed-dialogue"></div> </body> </html>

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