River Swale

River Swale
The River Swale near Richmond
Location
CountryEngland
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationConfluence of Birkdale Beck and Great Sleddale Beck.
 • coordinates54°24′11″N 2°13′22″W / 54.403019°N 2.222681°W / 54.403019; -2.222681
 • elevation366 m (1,201 ft)
Mouth 
 • location
River Ure, near Myton-on-Swale, North Yorkshire
 • coordinates
54°05′16″N 1°20′36″W / 54.087853°N 1.343408°W / 54.087853; -1.343408
 • elevation
11 m (36 ft)
Length117.8 km (73.2 mi)

The River Swale in Yorkshire, England, is a major tributary of the River Ure, which becomes the River Ouse, that empties into the North Sea via the Humber Estuary. The river gives its name to Swaledale, the valley through which it flows.

The river and its valley are home to many types of flora and fauna typical to the Yorkshire Dales. Like similar rivers in the region, the river carves through several types of rock and has features typical of both river and glacial erosion. The River Swale has been a contributory factor in the settlements that have been recorded throughout its history. It has provided water to aid in the raising of crops and livestock, but also in the various mining activities that have occurred since Roman times and before.

The river is said to be the fastest flowing in England[1] and its levels have been known to rise 10 feet (3 m) in 20 minutes.[2] Annual rainfall figures average 1800 mm p.a. in the headwaters and 1300 mm p.a. in the lower waters over a drop of 148 m in 32 km.

  1. ^ "River Swale – Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust". Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
  2. ^ Greenbank, Tony (24 November 2018). "When trouble bubbles". The Yorkshire Post. The Magazine. p. 6. ISSN 0963-1496.