The Severn Bore from Weird Wednesday
While it might look like just another river, it’s what this river does that is so special (weird?). The River Severn is the longest river in Great Britain stretching 220 miles from Wales southward to the Bristol Channel, where it meets the Atlantic. It also has the greatest water flow of any river in England. But while all those things are grand, it’s nearly as famous for a natural phenomena that only a few rivers in the world possess- a tidal bore.
As much as two-hundred and sixty times a year, a large surge wave can be seen forming in the River Severn’s estuary, with a tidal range of as much as 50 feet, making it the second largest in the world. The shape of the estuary causes the river water to be funneled into a narrowing channel as the tide rises, resulting in the surge wave. Only sixty rivers around the world experience such a phenomena. The Severn Bore has become a tourist attraction and mecca for surfers. You can watch those crazy kids below:
