River Thames

High school (ages 12+)
Geography

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/river-thames

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How long is the River Thames?215 miles (346 km)
2. How big is the River Thames?North Kent Marshes (Site of Special Scientific Interest)
3. What is the location?Southern England, flowing through London
4. What is the number of tributaries?At least 50 named tributaries
5. Why does the River Thames have a tidal reach up to Teddington Lock?The river is tidal up to Teddington Lock, where the water level can rise or fall by up to 7 meters. This tidal reach turns the lower part of the river into the Tideway, a brackish area that helps support special wildlife.
6. What kinds of animals live in the River Thames?Many birds, fish, and other animals live in the Thames. The river has freshwater fish upstream, and brackish fish and salt‑water species near the sea. Over 80 islands give birds places to nest and rest.

Estuary: The tidal mouth of a large river where the tide meets the stream, often resulting in brackish water.
Hydrology: The scientific study of the movement, distribution, and quality of water on Earth and other planets.
Brackish Water: Water that has more salinity than freshwater but not as much as seawater, typically found where rivers meet the sea.
Abstraction: The process of taking water from a river or other source for use, such as for drinking water or irrigation.