River Don, South Yorkshire facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids River Don, South Yorkshire
A footbridge, looking towards Newton
Country	England
Physical characteristics
River mouth	River Trent/River Ouse 53°41′49″N 0°52′01″W / 53.697°N 0.867°W / 53.697; -0.867
Length	70 miles (110 km)

The River Don (also called the Dun in some sections) is a river in South Yorkshire, England. It begins in the Pennines and flows for 70 miles (110 km) eastwards, through the Don Valley. It originally joined with the Trent, but was re-engineered in the 1620s, and now joins the River Ouse at Goole in the East Riding of Yorkshire. The Don can be divided into sections by the different types of structures built to restrict its passage. The upper section has dams built to provide a public water supply. The middle section contains many weirs, which were built to power water wheels. The lower section contains weirs and locks, designed to allow for river navigation.

The Don's major tributaries are the Loxley, the Rivelin, the Sheaf, the Rother and the Dearne. The Don gets its name from Dôn (or Danu), a Celtic mother goddess. The river gave its name to the Don River in Ontario, which runs through Toronto, Canada.