Mersey

The Mersey is a river in the northwest of England. It is commonly said to be formed by the confluence of the River Goyt and the River Etherow at Stockport, and it flows generally west and northwest to the Irish Sea. In its course it passes through or beside towns and cities such as Warrington and Runcorn before reaching the estuary near Liverpool.

The lower Mersey forms part of the boundary between Cheshire and Merseyside and opens into Liverpool Bay. Its estuary is tidal and broad, with the city of Liverpool on the eastern bank and the Wirral Peninsula on the western side. The river's navigable waters support commercial shipping, and the Manchester Ship Canal connects Manchester to the Mersey, allowing ocean-going vessels to reach inland destinations and enabling a major inland port system.

Historically, the Mersey has been central to regional trade and industry. Liverpool grew from a small port into a major global city during the 18th and 19th centuries because of access to the Mersey and its estuary. The arrival of the Manchester Ship Canal in the late 19th century further integrated the inland economy with maritime transport. In modern times the river and its estuary continue to support shipping, industry, and recreation, while environmental and planning authorities oversee water quality, habitat protection, and land-use planning along the river valley and estuary.