What are the following?
???
1. How might the following affect the rate of
erosion…
a. Gradient (angle of slope)
b. Rock type
c. Bedload (the amount of material being
carried)
d. Human factors
River Tees – Your Case Study of a River
LO: To know the location of the River Tees and be able to
describe one of the features which is found on its route.
All will describe the
location of the River Tees
including its source and
mouth
Most will describe how vshaped valleys form
Some will suggest how
interlocking spurs
develop.
85 miles in length
It drains an area of 710
square miles
1. Describe the route of the River Tees. Include the
mouth and the source and the change in height.
River Tees
The river Tees flows 85 miles from its source at Cross Fell in the
Pennine Hills to its mouth, where it flows into the North Sea at
Teeside. It is one of the major rivers in the UK.
High Force waterfall on the River Tees is one of the most impressive
waterfalls in England. Here the River Tees plunges some 20 metres into
the foaming plunge pool below before continuing its journey through
a spectacular gorge. In addition to High Force, the river has formed vshaped valleys, meanders and floodplains along its route.
Cow Green Reservoir has been created by flooding an area of the Tees
valley to supply water to urban or industrial areas like Middlesbrough.
The River Tees flows into the North Sea just north of Middlesbrough.
The vast flat valley floor is a tidal estuary and has been extensively
developed for industry, using the wide river mouth for shipping and
the safe harbours, protected from the storms of the North Sea.
V Shaped Valleys
Why do V-shaped valleys occur?
Interlocking spurs
Near their source, rivers tend to follow a fairly straight
path but as they move further from the source they
start to wiggle around obstructions this creates areas
that point into the river called spurs. Where these
points mesh in together they are called interlocking
spurs.
3. How do v
shaped valleys
lead to the
formation of
interlocking
spurs?
http://www.cleo.net.uk/resources/displayframe.p
hp?src=308/consultants_resources%2F_files%2Fin
tespur2.swf
85 miles in
length
It drains an
area of 710
square
miles
River Management
-Long history of flash flooding
-Cow green reservoir, controls water
supply for industries along the river
-Straighten the river for easier navigation
during the industrial revolution
Flood protection schemes in Yarn
Upper Course
Lower Course
-Source high in the Pennines (893m
above sea level)
-High run off as steep V shaped valleys of
-Very urbanised and large populations. Eg Yarn
-Important wildlife seals &
migratory birds also SSSI
-Ox bow lakes
-Large oil, gas and petrochemical industries (as flat land)
-Natural Levees formed due to silt build up
-Mouth is in the North sea
-Wide Mudflat estuary (tidal)
-Huge water sports complex Tees Barrage
impermeable rock
-High rainfall – good water supply
-Many tributaries
-Famous high fall waterfall – tallest in
England 21 metres high
-Gorges, rapids and potholes at Low
force
Middle Course
-Clear widening and meandering
-Meanders cut off in the 19th
century
-Sides become less steep
-Lateral erosion