The Thames is the river on which the capital of Great Britain stands. She is considered the mother of all English rivers. Despite the fact that it is not the longest and most full-flowing, all legends and traditions are associated with it. Interestingly, any Englishman will answer you with fervor that the Thames is his favorite river.
Longest or not
The Thames is 215 miles long. In terms of our kilometers, this is 346. In England, it is considered the longest, and in the UK it takes only second place.
Many people wonder where the Thames flows into, but scientists still cannot come to a consensus about its source. Some argue that this is Thames Head, which in translation sounds like this: “the head of the Thames”. This source is located in Gloucestershire.
In the south of this area is a small village called Kemble. If you walk north from it, you can stumble upon the Cotswolds hills. Some scholars believe that the source of the Thames begins here and is called the Seven Keys. This is the place where the Chern River begins to carry its waters. If this opinion of scientists and researchers is correct, then the realThe length of the Thames is increased by 15 kilometers. In this case, the mouth will lead the legendary river directly to the North Sea, giving an answer to the question of where the Thames flows.
Scientists have been arguing about the location of the source for years. After all, if the second guess is correct, then the length of the Thames is 368 kilometers, which significantly exceeds the length of the Severn, which is now called the longest river.
London's Nurse
The Thames in London is considered the breadwinner of the capital and the whole of Great Britain. In general, its historical significance is due to the fact that it carries its waters through London, which is an impressive seaport.
It is interesting that the river has in its composition areas where the water is both fresh and s alty at the same time. These green islands are rich in flora and fauna. The river has more than 20 tributaries - rivers and streams that carry their waters to the same place where the Thames flows.
This river of Great Britain at all times was considered the main highway along which trade was carried out with other countries. So it was at all times of the existence of the state, so it remains now.
In London, the River Thames plays a huge role. No inhabitant of the capital can imagine life without its waters. Many historical events are associated with it.
Interestingly, many scientists refer to it as "fluid history". This definition very accurately reflects the "life" of the Thames, which has "seen" a lot in its lifetime.
Fauna
A huge number of animals and birds live in the river: surface and underwater. Here you can meet seagulls andcormorants that nest in flocks off the banks of the Thames.
The river is considered a nesting place for swans. Every year, a holiday is held for the "census" of these birds. It is considered a great success to meet whispering swans in London, but their black counterparts are not surprising.
The Thames kindly provides its banks for nesting coots and geese, mandarin ducks and herons, mallards and other birds.
There are also a lot of fish in the Thames - freshwater and marine. This allows us to judge the river as rich in fauna.
When the Thames became popular
Each of us has heard about the London artery more than once, knows where the Thames flows and where it takes its source. But not everyone knows that the first settlements appeared on its banks as early as 3300-2700 BC. Ancient cities such as Cookham and Lechlade testify to this.
There are hypotheses that the first people lived here already in the pre-glacial period, but only the Thames is known for certain.
The river was first mentioned in written sources in 54 BC. These were the times of the campaigns of Julius Caesar. Then the Thames was a kind of border for the Romans and the local tribes of the island.
Cultural and tourism life
The London Waterway attracts musicians, poets, writers and artists. Their numerous masterpieces can be found all over the world. The place where the Thames (river) flows into is now covered with many legends and secrets. Some were created by local people and passed from mouth to mouth for many generations,while others were invented by the visitors themselves.
The banks of the Thames outside the capital are a place of pilgrimage for monks. They also attract tourists who love outdoor activities.
Interestingly, such major city buildings in London as the Tower and the Palace of Westminster are on the same straight line formed by the River Thames.
What's next
Those tourists who love historical monuments and interesting sights will be interested to know that there are a huge number of them on the banks of the Thames. These include Oxford University, which is one of the oldest in Europe. Tower, London, Hammersmith, Vauxhall bridges are thrown across the river, which were built in the 19th and 20th centuries. A modern building is the Millennium Bridge, built in 2002, as well as a Ferris wheel called the London Eye in 1999.
An unforgettable experience will give a walk along the Victoria Embankment, the Port of London. You can look into the Royal Observatory or visit the Globe Theatre.
