Severn

The Severn, or River Severn, is the longest river in Great Britain by length. It rises in the Cambrian Mountains of Wales (Welsh: Hafren) and flows for about 220 miles (354 kilometers) to the Bristol Channel, draining parts of Wales and the English Midlands before reaching the sea.

Its course passes towns including Shrewsbury, Worcester, and Gloucester, and for a stretch it forms part of the boundary between Wales and England. The river is linked with the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal, which provides navigation to Gloucester. At the mouth, the Severn Estuary is notable for a very large tidal range and the Severn Bore, a tidal wave that travels upstream on certain tides. The estuary supports diverse habitats for birds, fish, and other wildlife and is designated for protection as a Ramsar site.

Human activity centers on navigation, commerce, and recreation. The estuary serves as an important shipping route for access to ports in the Bristol Channel region. Major crossings include the Severn Bridge (M48, opened 1966) and the Second Severn Crossing (Prince of Wales Bridge, opened 1996); tolls on these crossings were removed in 2018. The river’s surrounding landscapes support countryside and urban environments, and the area is known for wildlife watching, boating, and tourism linked to the river’s natural and industrial heritage.