The Trent is the third longest river in the United Kingdom. It rises in Staffordshire on the southern edge of Biddulph Moor.
Known for its dramatic flooding following storms and spring snowmelt, the course of the river has often been altered in the past. Passing through the towns of Stoke-on-Trent, Stone, Rugeley, Burton upon Trent, and Nottingham. It meets the River Ouse at the Falls to form the Humber Estuary, which is commonly referred to as the boundary between the Midlands and northern England.
The course of the Trent
The river rises in the Staffordshire Moorlands from several sources, including a well.
It is then joined by other small streams to form a river that flows south to a single reservoir. Beyond the reservoir, it flows through the town of Stoke-on-Trent and joins the Lyme, Fowlea and other streams that drain the six Staffordshire Potteries, becoming the River Trent. On the southern edge of Stoke it flows through the landscaped park of Trentham Gardens.
Hydrology
The hydrology of the river is directly influenced by the topography, geology, and land use of the river basin. Where the contrasting characteristics of the runoff and subsequent inflows of the main tributaries are a result of the variation in these factors.
The River Trent’s middle reaches form a relatively energetic river system due to the confluence of several significant tributaries. These tributaries include the River Tame, which contributes nearly 25% of the Trent’s total flow, as well as the Derwent, Soar, Dove, and Sow. The Dove and Derwent, which drain the Peak District, are also part of this river system.
