Bristol Channel - Ecology, Coastal cities and towns, Transport, 1607 flood

An inlet of the Atlantic Ocean and an extension of the R Severn estuary, between Wales and England, UK; extends 128 km/79 mi E–W, with a varying width of 5–80 km/3–50 mi at its mouth; the greatest tidal range in England; chief towns on the Welsh (N) coast include Cardiff and Swansea, and on the English (S) coast Ilfracombe and Weston-super-Mare.

The Bristol Channel (Welsh: Môr Hafren) is a major inlet in the island of Great Britain, separating South Wales from South West England and extending from the lower estuary of the River Severn to that part of the North Atlantic Ocean known as the Celtic Sea.

The limit of the Bristol Channel is St Govan's Head in Pembrokeshire, Lundy Island, and Hartland Point in Devon. Western and Northern Pembrokeshire and North Cornwall are outside of the limit of the Bristol Channel, and are considered part of the seaboard of the Atlantic Ocean.

The Bristol Channel, on both the South Wales and West Country sides, has more miles of Heritage Coast seaboard than any other stretch of water in the U.K.

Ecology

At low tide large parts of the channel may become mud flats due to the estuaries tidal range of 15 metres, the second largest in the world. Development schemes have been proposed along the channel, including an airport and a tidal barrier for electricity generation, but the conservation issues have always blocked such schemes.

Major islands in the Bristol Channel are Lundy, Steep Holm and Flat Holm. The islands and headlands provide some shelter for the upper reaches of the channel from storms.

Arguably, the Bristol Channel has better beaches and more spectacular scenery than the equivalent English Channel, particularly on the coast of Exmoor and Bideford Bay in Devon and the likes of the Vale of Glamorgan and the Gower Peninsula on the Glamorgan coast.

Coastal cities and towns

The Bristol Channel is a notoriously dangerous area of water because of its strong tides and the rarity of havens on the north Cornish and north Devon coasts that can be entered in all states of the tide. A specialised style of sailing boat the Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter developed in the area, producing some of the most seaworthy sailing vessels in the world.

In the estuary above Avonmouth, river rescue is provided by Severn Area Rescue Association.

Situated on the River Avon is the city of Bristol, from which the Channel takes its name and which was once one of the most important ports in Britain. Bristol's dock activity has now been transferred to the nearby Channel coast at Avonmouth Docks and Royal Portbury Dock.

The Welsh capital, Cardiff, is on the northern side side of the estuary, with Cardiff Bay protected behind the Cardiff Bay Barrage.

Transport

Rail

The Severn Tunnel, situated near the Second Severn Crossing road bridge, carries the railway line under the channel.

Road

At two of the narrower parts, near Bristol and Chepstow, the channel is crossed by the:

Severn Bridge — opened in 1966 carrying the M48 Second Severn Crossing — opened in 1996 carrying the M4 motorway

Previous to the construction of the first bridge in 1966, the channel was crossed by the Aust Ferry.

Automobiles could also be transported through the Severn Tunnel.

Paddle steamers

P and A Campbell of Bristol were the main operators of pleasure craft and particularly paddle steamerss, from the mid-1800s to the late 1970s, also the Barry Railway Company. The steamer provides pleasure trips between the Welsh and English coasts and to the islands of the channel.

Severn Barrage

The proposed Severn Barrage would constitute a third crossing, and would have a significant environmental impact on the Severn estuary and Bristol Channel.

1607 flood

On 30 January 1607 (New style) thousands of people were drowned, houses and villages swept away, farmland inundated and flocks destroyed when a flood hit the shores of the channel.

The cause of the flood is disputed: it had long been believed that the floods were caused by a combination of meteorological extremes and tidal peaks, but research published in 2002 has shown evidence of a tsunami in the Channel.