Part 6. Inland Waters.

The rivers of Britain are short; their direction and character are determined by the position of the moun­tains.

Most of the rivers flow in the eastward direction since the west coast is mountainous.

Due to the humid climate and abundant rainfall, the water level in the rivers is always high. The riv­ers seldom freeze in winter, most of them remain ice-free. Many of the rivers are joined together by ca­nals. This system of rivers and canals provides a good means of cheap inland water transport.

British rivers are not navigable for ocean ships, but they form deep estuaries, and strong tides pene­trating into them prevent the formation of deltas. Ivlost of the large ports of Great Britain are situated in the estuaries.

The most important rivers are the Severn¹, flow­ing from the Cumbrian Mountains in Wales into the Bristol Channel², the Thames, flowing across the plains of south-eastern England and emptying into the North Sea, the Tyne³ and the Trent⁴, flowing from the eastern slopes of the Pennines to the North Sea, the Mersey⁵, flowing down the western slopes of the Pennines and emptying into the Irish Sea at Liv­erpool⁶, and the Clyde⁷ in Scotland, which flows west across the Southern Uplands and on which the port of Glasgow is situated.

Owing to the fact that British lakes are rather small and have no outlets, they afford limited economic possibilities in the system of navigable waterways. But most of them, especially those situated in the counties of Cumberland⁸, Westmorland⁹ and north Lancashire¹⁰, are famous for their unique beauty and picturesque surroundings. Famous is the English Lake District, occupying a comparatively small area. It is a place of steep ridges and deep valleys smooth slopes and deep lakes, ravines, waterfalls and green meadows. The Lake District is one of the most popular I holiday districts in Great Britain.

QUESTIONS.

1. Why do most of the rivers in Great Britain flow in the eastward direction?

2. Why is the water level in British rivers always high?

3. Do British rivers freeze in winter?

4. Many rivers in Great Britain are joined together by canals. What does the system of rivers and canals provide?

5. Are British rivers navigable for ocean ships?

6. What prevents the formation- of deltas at the mouths of rivers?

7. Where are most of the large sea ports situated?

8. Which are the most important rivers in Great Britain?

9. What are the British lakes famous for? Where are most of them situated?

10. Give a description of the Lake District.

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