Castle
The River Severn is Britain's longest river, running about 220 miles (354 kilometers) from the Cambrian Mountains in mid-Wales to the Bristol Channel and the Atlantic Ocean. Starting at 2,000 feet on Plynlimon, it flows through Welshpool, crosses into England near Shrewsbury, and passes Worcester and Gloucester. The Severn has long been important for trade and powered many mills during the Industrial Revolution. It is famous for the Severn Bore, a tidal wave that travels upstream, drawing surfers and spectators. The Severn Estuary has one of the world's highest tidal ranges, up to 50 feet, leading to tidal power proposals. Today, the river supports wildlife like salmon, eels, and the rare twaite shad, and its valley is a key transportation route, crossed by bridges such as the Severn Bridge and the historic Iron Bridge at Coalbrookdale.