River Eea
Encyclopedia
The River Eea is a small river
in the Lake District
, Cumbria
, England running through the Furness
region, which was once part of Lancashire
. The River Eea is a relatively short system that arises from numerous small becks and streams throughout the Cartmel Valley. Its course is approximately 10 km long and the mouth is at Sand Gate marshes near Flookburgh
, between Barrow and Kendal. It flows in a south-westerly direction.
The river's source is a bog in the hills, meaning it flows all year round. The river's main tributaries are Muddypool and Ayside Beck, which converge above Cartmel
.
The river rises near High Cark in Newton Fell and the Whitestone Enclosure, and is soon fed by Black Beck (emanating from Fair Rigg south of Staveley-in-Cartmel) and Ayside Pool (rising above Ayside).
From there, the Eea runs past Green Bank and through Cartmel and Cark
before flowing via Sand Gate Marsh
into the estuary
of the River Leven at Lenibrick Point, close to Chapel Island
. It is now used as a fieldwork study point for the centre 'Castle Head', where students test various properties of the river such as the river speed, width and depth.
The word eea is a viking word for eal. The river was named after the large amount of eals found in the lower course of the river during high tides at sea.
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
in the Lake District
Lake District
The Lake District, also commonly known as The Lakes or Lakeland, is a mountainous region in North West England. A popular holiday destination, it is famous not only for its lakes and its mountains but also for its associations with the early 19th century poetry and writings of William Wordsworth...
, Cumbria
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
, England running through the Furness
Furness
Furness is a peninsula in south Cumbria, England. At its widest extent, it is considered to cover the whole of North Lonsdale, that part of the Lonsdale hundred that is an exclave of the historic county of Lancashire, lying to the north of Morecambe Bay....
region, which was once part of Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
. The River Eea is a relatively short system that arises from numerous small becks and streams throughout the Cartmel Valley. Its course is approximately 10 km long and the mouth is at Sand Gate marshes near Flookburgh
Flookburgh
Flookburgh is an ancient village on the Cartmel peninsula in Cumbria, until 1974 part of Lancashire. Being close to Morecambe Bay, fishing plays a big part in village life. Cockle and shrimp fishermen still venture out onto the sands every day, nowadays using specially adapted tractors.Flookburgh...
, between Barrow and Kendal. It flows in a south-westerly direction.
The river's source is a bog in the hills, meaning it flows all year round. The river's main tributaries are Muddypool and Ayside Beck, which converge above Cartmel
Cartmel
Cartmel is a village in Cumbria, England, situated north-west of Grange-over-Sands and close to the River Eea. Historically it was in Lancashire; boundary changes brought it into the newly created county of Cumbria in 1974, yet keeping it within the boundaries of the traditional County Palatine...
.
The river rises near High Cark in Newton Fell and the Whitestone Enclosure, and is soon fed by Black Beck (emanating from Fair Rigg south of Staveley-in-Cartmel) and Ayside Pool (rising above Ayside).
From there, the Eea runs past Green Bank and through Cartmel and Cark
Cark
Cark is a village in Cumbria, England. It lies on the B5278 road to Haverthwaite and is ½ mile north of Flookburgh, 2 miles southwest of Cartmel and 3 miles west of Grange-over-Sands....
before flowing via Sand Gate Marsh
Salt marsh
A salt marsh is an environment in the upper coastal intertidal zone between land and salt water or brackish water, it is dominated by dense stands of halophytic plants such as herbs, grasses, or low shrubs. These plants are terrestrial in origin and are essential to the stability of the salt marsh...
into the estuary
Estuary
An estuary is a partly enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea....
of the River Leven at Lenibrick Point, close to Chapel Island
Chapel Island
Chapel Island is a limestone outcrop that lies in the Leven estuary of Morecambe Bay in England, less than one mile from the shoreline at Bardsea in the area known as Ulverston Sands. It is located at . It is one of the Islands of Furness in the county of Cumbria, in the area of the historic...
. It is now used as a fieldwork study point for the centre 'Castle Head', where students test various properties of the river such as the river speed, width and depth.
The word eea is a viking word for eal. The river was named after the large amount of eals found in the lower course of the river during high tides at sea.