River Mersey Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
The River Mersey is a river in the north west of England. The river's name is derived from the Norse language.The Mersey is formed from three tributaries: the River Etherow, the River Goyt and the River Tame; becoming the Mersey near Stockport, Greater Manchester, and joined by the River Irwell near Flixton.
It then flows through Stockport, Didsbury, Stretford, Urmston, Flixton, Cadishead, Hollins Green, Warburton, Rixton, Woolston, Warrington, Great Sankey, Moore, Norton, Widnes & Runcorn (which are connected by the Runcorn Bridge spanning the river).
After being joined by the River Irwell, its course merges with that of the Manchester Ship Canal until Warrington, after which point it becomes tidal. At Runcorn it is joined by the waters of the River Weaver. It broadens into an estuary at Ellesmere Port and proceeds via Liverpool and Birkenhead, flowing out into Liverpool Bay on the Irish Sea after a total course of around 70 miles. The conurbation on its banks near the coast is known as Merseyside.
Two road tunnels run under the Mersey at Liverpool: the older Queensway Tunnel (opened 1934) connecting with Birkenhead, and the Kingsway Tunnel (opened 1971) connecting with Wallasey. There is also a railway tunnel dating back to the 1880s, which carries passenger services on the Merseyrail franchise. Crossings are also possible via the Mersey Ferry, again at Liverpool.
The river is now internationally famous thanks to the music of the 1960s known as Merseybeat and its strong association with Liverpool, which produced songs such as "Ferry Across The Mersey".