The Thames is one of the most iconic rivers in the world and is 346 km long. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the UK. Its source is at Thames Head, near Kemble in the Cotswolds and its mouth is the Thames Estuary at Southend-on-Sea where it meets the North Sea.
Where does the Thames go out to sea?
The source is in Gloucestershire, which is in south-west England. It flows in an easterly direction through Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Surrey and into London. The Thames is tidal a few miles upstream from London. Past London it becomes an estuary, and from there into the North Sea.
Where does the Thames become non tidal?
The tidal Thames extends from the North Sea to Teddington Lock (where the non-tidal Thames, managed by the Environment Agency starts).
Where does the Thames become the North Sea?
The transition between the Thames Estuary and the North Sea has been located at various notional boundaries, including: The Yantlet Line between the Crow Stone (London Stone) on the northern foreshore at Chalkwell, Westcliffe-on-Sea and another London Stone off the Isle of Grain, to the south.
Is the Thames freshwater or seawater?
As the Thames is tidal, its waters are 'brackish' – a mixture of fresh and saltwater. Drinking untreated Thames river water is unsafe, although historically it has been used for many domestic and industrial purposes including cooking, brewing and generating power.
Where does the Thames change from freshwater to saltwater?
Between Teddington and Chelsea the tidal Thames is freshwater, from Chelsea downstream it becomes more mixed ("brackish") until it becomes a marine environment below Greenwich. This change in salt levels impacts the types of fish and wildlife you find in different stretches of the river.
Where does the Thames become the sea?
Does the Thames run into the sea?
The Thames is one of the World's most fascinating and beautiful rivers. From source to sea, its 215 miles flow from springs in Gloucestershire through rural and developed areas to London and on to the imposing tidal estuary into the North Sea.
Is it safe to swim in the Thames?
Never swim across the river. Don't swim more than 10 metres from the water's edge and as far inshore as possible. Try to remain in water shallow enough to stand up in so you are able to stand up and return to a place of safety should you get into difficulty.
Do fish swim in the Thames?
There is an incredible 125 species of fish that have been found living amongst the animals in the Thames, and this includes species of conservation and commercial importance.
Why is the Thames so tidal?
Twice a day the Thames undergoes an incredible transformation – from a slow-moving river to a brimming marine environment as the North Sea floods inland. This remarkable event – governed by the moon – changes river height by up to 7m in just six hours.
How deep is the Thames?
66′River Thames / Max depthThe River Thames (at London Bridge, where the tides are measured) has a depth of just 66 feet (20 metres). That doesn't really compare to the deepest rivers in the world.
Why did the Thames stink?
For centuries the River Thames had been used as a dumping ground for the capital's waste and as the population grew, so did the problem. The hot summer of 1858 elevated the stench to an unbearable level and resulted in an episode known as 'The Great Stink'.
Is it OK to swim in the Thames?
The tidal Thames is a fast-flowing waterway and the busiest inland waterway in the UK accommodating over 20,000 ship movements and hosting over 400 events each year. It is for these reasons the PLA restricts swimming throughout the majority of its jurisdiction for the safety of swimmers and river users.