River Lea

Lea at Hertford

The River Lea and River Lee (both names are in use) is a river in England. It rises near Luton in the Chiltern Hills and flows initially eastward. To the east of Hertford change the river course its direction and flows southward toward London, where it flows into the River Thames. The opening section, a four kilometer long, tidenabhängiges estuary is also called Bow Creek.

The spelling Lea is west of Hertford in use, while be used in the course to the mouth of both forms (Lea or Lee).

The river rises west of Luton and then flows through ( or along ) Luton, Harpenden, Welwyn Garden City, Hertford, Ware, Hoddesdon, Cheshunt, Edmonton, Tottenham, Upper Clapton, Hackney Wick, Stratford, Bromley -by -Bow, Canning Town and finally Leamouth, where it flows into the River Thames.

The flow described in England should not be confused with the River Lee in County Cork Republic of Ireland and also not with the Lea River in northern Spain.