Wikipedia:Featured and good topic candidates/Physical geography of Somerset/addition1

Physical geography of Somerset (1st supplementary nomination)

 * 1) River Parrett

River Parrett has just achieved GA status. It is the largest river in Somerset at 37 mi. It drains an area of over 652.5 sqmi, comprising around 50% of the land area of Somerset.&mdash; Rod talk 19:05, 1 February 2009 (UTC)
 * Comment - How long are the other rivers in Somerset? This may be the longest, but you need to convince me that this river is substantially the most notable - rst20xx (talk) 23:10, 1 February 2009 (UTC)
 * Expansion - I had hoped that saying it drains over 50% of the land area of the county would be enough but to add a little more:
 * The main tributaries include the Rivers Tone (length (approx) 21 mi), Isle (8 mi) and River Yeo (South Somerset) (15 mi). The Cary (8 mi) drains into the Parrett via the King's Sedgemoor Drain (artificial) (10.5 mi).
 * The other significant rivers in Somerset which are not tributaries include: Axe (15 mi), Barle (7 mi), Brue (30 mi), Chew (17 mi), Frome (20 mi), Holford (4.5 mi), Huntspill (artificial) (5 mi), Sheppey (7 mi) and Congresbury Yeo (15 mi). I have not included rivers, streams & brooks less than (4 mi) in length.
 * The rivers Exe (50 mi) and Avon (75 mi) form parts of the borders of the county but do not flow in it for much of their course.
 * The Parrett is tidal for 27 mi and exhibits a tidal bore.
 * The River Parrett was established as the border between Wessex and Dumnonia in 658 AD
 * The name means 'The barge river' from the Latin paradie 'barse'.
 * Historically, the main port on the river was at Bridgwater; the river being bridged at this point, with the first bridge being constructed in 1200 AD.
 * Most commercial shipping travels upriver as far as Dunball wharf, which handles bulk cargoes. Marine sand and gravel accounted for 55,754 tonnes of the total tonnage of 90,213 using the Port facilities in 2006, with salt products accounting for 21,170 tonnes in the same year, while the roll-on roll-off berth at Combwich is used occasionally for the transfer of heavy goods for the two Hinkley Point nuclear power stations.
 * The river is technically a highland carrier, as it is embanked and the water level is often higher than that of the land through which it flows. Water from the surrounding countryside does not therefore drain into the river naturally, and drainage schemes have relied on pumping to remove the water and reduce flooding. The pumping station at Westonzoyland was built in 1830, the first mechanical pumping station on the Somerset Levels.
 * During January through to May, the Parrett provides a source of eels (Anguilla anguilla) and young elvers.
 * I hope this provides enough explanatiojn of why it is the biggest & most significant river but if you want more let me know.&mdash; Rod talk 09:59, 2 February 2009 (UTC)


 * Support - OK thanks, I only wanted the river lengths! :P rst20xx (talk) 11:57, 2 February 2009 (UTC)
 * Support. Rreagan007 (talk) 17:57, 2 February 2009 (UTC)
 * Support - -- TRU  CO   18:12, 7 February 2009 (UTC)
 * Close with consensus to promote - Jeez, 4 promotions in one day is killing me! rst20xx (talk) 14:32, 12 February 2009 (UTC)