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River Trent facts
The River is 171 miles long (274 kilometres), beginning at its source in North Staffordshire and ending at the mouth of the Humber Estuary.
Rain falling on the following places eventually flows into the River Trent - Bakewell, Buxton, Leek, Stoke, Stafford, Walsall, West Bromwich, Birmingham, Nuneaton, Leicester, Melton Mowbrey and Scunthorpe. see map 
The Trent is one of only two bore rivers in England (the other is the River Severn). This means that the Trent is tidal and, like the sea, has a tide twice a day.
Historical documents claim that in 1101 and 1581 the River Trent completely dried up!
The river has a history of flooding going back more than 650 years. Due to the building of dykes and ditches flooding became less of a problem. However, flooding is not always bad; the river water carries material that enriches the earth, and there is very good, fertile farmland on the flood plain. Also, some wildlife loves land that has been flooded.
Originally, the River Trent was important in providing places for people to gather, settle and live. It provided water for drinking as well as a means of transport and communication. The river provided good defensive positions which led to the building of castles and other settlements. Subsequently, towns grew up in these places.
The River Trent has had many uses, including:
- Drinking water: water from the River Trent and its tributaries feeds reservoirs.
- Transport: the river has been used for trade as early as the 12th century, transporting such things as coal, pottery, beer, corn, etc.
- Construction: gravel and sand from the River Trent have been extracted to be used in buildings.
- Leisure: the river provides a number of opportunities to have fun, including rowing, canoeing, boating, walking and fishing.
- Power: because of the number of power stations along the Trent, it is known in some circles as the ‘River of Power’ (!)
Over the years, the River Trent has been polluted in many ways, making the water dangerous in parts and causing some wildlife to die. However, the damage caused by overflows of sewage, industrial pollution and the effects of the mining industry are all being addressed in order to improve the water quality.