Rivers, Streams, Lakes & Estuaries (the differences!)
Wareham, Purbeck, Maria Burns
England has all kinds of versions of ‘water’. Apart from the sea, we have rivers, streams, lakes and estuaries. But what exactly is each one, and how do they differ. And which ones are made from fresh water, and which ones are salty? They may all look similar, but each one behaves in different ways.
In summary, rivers and streams are moving water in a channel. While lakes are mostly still water in a basin. And estuaries are where rivers meet the sea.
Freshwater contains little dissolved salt (rainfall, springs, streams, rivers and many lakes fall into this group). Saltwater comes from the sea, and holds much more salt (seawater is 35 parts per thousand). An estuary sits between the two, so the water becomes brackish (part fresh and part salty).
Some lakes worldwide are very salty including the Dead Sea (this sea is literally dying, which is why people say not to use dead sea salts). In South America, beautiful flamingos live on salty lakes.
If out walking, always follow the Countryside Code to keep dogs, barnyard friends and wildlife safe. Keep dogs away from steep banks, mushrooms, toxic flowers and trees. At the coast, read how to keep dogs safe by the seaside.
Estuaries (where rivers meet the sea)
Estuaries are similar to wetlands, and often teem with wildlife. Endangered curlews adore wetlands and surrounding mudflats, as do marsh harriers. England has many estuaries, including the Seven Estuary, which migrating birds adore.
Rivers (moving bodies of water)
Rivers are fresh water bodies that flow from high ground into the seas, lakes and other rivers. Streams are simply smaller rivers, which as they connect and grow larger, become rivers.
They are home to many creatures including salmon and trout, and loved by kingfishers, otters and many other native species.
Fens (manmade marshy bogs)
Fens are manmade water bodies located in the East of England, which contain natural peat bogs and reeds/grasses that provides land so fertile, it grows most of our organic food.
But we’ve lost 99% of our Fens, which also supports many species from dragonflies to endangered water voles to rare plants. The Fens are also home to many birds including migrating whooping swans, herons, cranes and barn owls.
Lakes (water enclosed by land)
Lakes are usually fed by rivers. England’s largest lakes are in Cumbria (the Lake District, which is our largest National Park). These are much deeper lakes than say in the Norfolk Broads (shallow by comparison).
The Lake District also has many tarns. From the old Norse word for ‘pool’, this is simply a mountain lake, formed in a hollow area by glaciers.
Home to lots of wildlife and birds (including fish-eating ospreys in Cumbria), the deepest lakes in the UK by far are in Scotland (all the lochs).
Reedbeds (adored by water voles)
Reedbeds are mostly found on East of England’s coast, when reeds grow alongside low-lying river banks or coastal estuaries.
They are loved by many creatures including otters, water shrews, harvest mice and many native birds, fish and insects. The River Tay reedbed was planted by monks, back in the 16th century.
Scrapes (shallow ponds)
These are very shallow ponds with sloping edges, usually found on agricultural land, alongside open channel ditches that run along field boundaries.
They are home to many insects including dragonflies and water beetles, and also loved by amphibians and again wading birds.
Rias (salty southwest water)
Rias are mostly found in Devon and have high salt levels, and little freshwater.
Ponds (built by beavers or humans!)
Ponds used to be mostly natural in England. But as we’ve lost most of them, this is why many people choose to build garden ponds for wildlife (with sloping sides, to ensure easy exit and entry).
Natural ponds include beaver ponds (formed by ‘nature’s architect‘ to help prevent flooding).
