 The River Severn (Afon Hafren - Welsh)
The River Severn is Britain's longest river, flowing for approximately 220 miles. The Severn's source is in the Plynlimon mountains, the highest point of the Cambrian mountains in Powys, Wales. The river then runs through Shropshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire in England before becoming the Severn estuary. The estuary empties into the Bristol Channel which forms a natural boundary between the south of Wales and the south west of England.
The River Severn is also Britain's biggest river in terms of water flow. It is a tidal river and has the second highest tide in the world, with a range of 15m or 50ft. With the correct tidal conditions, the tide pushes through the Severn estuary and on into the narrowing river creating the famous and spectacular natural phenomenon, the 'Severn bore'.
The Severn bore is a large wave which travels upstream against the river's current for 20-25 miles. It happens many times during the year, but the largest waves (up to 2m or 7ft) occur in the spring. The bore has always been popular with surfers.
Historically the Severn was a major commercial freight route. Whilst the lower Severn is still used by commercial freight, the majority of Severn boaters are pleasure craft or narrowboats. The Severn is navigable to pleasure boats between Stourport to Gloucester. The Gloucester and Sharpness canal makes the lower reaches of the Severn safer for pleasure boats.
The Severn Way long-distance footpath covers the entire route of the river Severn, from source to sea. The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust's flagship nature reserve, Slimbridge, occupies an area between the Gloucester & Sharpness canal and the Severn.
Throughout the length of the river Severn there's an abundance of wildlife, history, and opportunities to get on the river, by rowing boat, canoe, or swimming on safe parts of the middle and upper reaches.
The river Severn often floods after continued, heavy rainfall.
Legend has it that the river was named after 'Sabrina' a lady that was drowned in the river in ancient folklore. I believe that Severn is latin for Sabrina.
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