The Wash

52.92877450.3186035Koordinaten: 52 ° 55 ' 44 "N, 0 ° 19' 7" E

The Wash is an estuary formed by the mouths of the rivers Witham ( " The Haven " ), Welland, Nene and Great Ouse is formed in the North Sea. It lies on the east coast of England at about 53 ° north latitude, and 0-1 ° eastern longitude.

Geography

The estuary forms a wide indentation of the coast of England and separates the coast of East Anglia from that of Lincolnshire. It consists of three strips of 25 kilometers in length. The east coast of the estuary belongs entirely to Norfolk and widens from Hunstanton in the north to the mouth of the Great Ouse at King 's Lynn in the south. The opposite, mainly the eastern parallel coast stretches from Gibraltar Point to the mouth of the Welland and is wholly to Lincolnshire. The south coast is predominantly in NW- SE direction, combining both estuaries. Half length here joins the Nene as the third river in the estuary.

The inland is a moorland or the floodplain of the said inflows, the " Fen " ( the marshes ) is called.

The deposits of sediment and of the artificial land reclamation, it is owed, that today's coastline enormously different from that of historical times - some cities that were once located on the seafront, now a piece are to be found further inland. Particularly along the south coast of the estuary is very shallow - here mainly occur at low water levels increased sandbanks on. The navigation of ships is therefore very difficult. A lightship is leading the way in the Lynn Channel, which brings ships on a secure way from the open sea to the south coast of the estuary.

Wildlife

The area is subject to the EU Birds Directive. There are extensive salt marshes, large sandbars at low tide, shallow water bodies and deep channels. In Freiston a dike was breached in three places, to increase the salt marshes and thus to offer a larger habitat for rare birds. The vast bays and the growing vegetation here contribute to the energy of the waves is reduced. This is an example of the currently evolving possibilities sustainable coastal zone management.

On the east side of the estuary you will find low Kalkkliffs with layers of well-known red lime and gravel pits that are necessary as a breeding place for birds at high water level.

Legend

According to legend, here King John of England is said to have lost the then British crown jewels, from which the word game " King John lost his clothes in the wash" (English: King John lost his clothes in The Wash / wash) resulted.

  • Bay in England
  • Bay in Europe
  • Bight (North Sea )
  • Mud flat
  • Geography ( Lincolnshire )
  • Geography (Norfolk )
River Welland River Nene River Great Ouse The Fens Lightvessel
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