River Eden, Fife

River Eden by Cupar

Bridge over the River Eden in Guard Bridge

Estuary of the River Eden

The River Eden is a river in the Scottish unitary authority Fife.

It is formed by the confluence of two streams west of Gateside near the border with Perth and Kinross and submit to its mouth in the North Sea 48 km with an altitude difference of 90 m back. It is the north extending the two most important rivers of Fife.

The Eden flows in a north-easterly direction while following essentially the route of the A91. Here he touches the towns of Auchtermuchty and Ladybank and Cupar flows. In the Guard Bridge A91 crosses the Eden on their way to St Andrews. Beyond the Bridge Guard Eden extends to a wide, sandy estuary and finally reaches about three kilometers north of St Andrews the North Sea. The mouth area was declared a nature reserve in 1978. In winter there settle shelduck and bar-tailed godwits.

In its length of 48 km, the Eden only a slight difference in height. For this reason, its flow rate, particularly below Cupar, very slowly. He has numerous tributaries, but invariably submit only small amounts of water. The Valley of Eden is considered fertile. Previously, the Eden frequently overflowed its banks. Measures against sulfur additions, however, were made ​​in the 19th century. At this time trout were to be found in Eden, whereas salmon due to various dams the river could not follow up.