Using the example of river basins & flooding in south west England, examine the impact of natural Hazards upon human activity.

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Using the example of river basins & flooding

In south west England, examine the impact of natural

Hazards upon human activity.

A Hazard is a naturally occurring event which has the potential to cause loss of life or property.  Floods are an excellent example of a frequent hazards which occurs in the United Kingdom.  Two of the best recorded floods in the West Country are those at Lynmouth in 1952 and Mendips in 1968.

The Lynmouth flood was funnelled down from the higher areas of Exmoor, where the bedrock is impermeable rock, through deep V-shaped valleys.  Whereas the Mendips flood had been caused by a storm at the top of the hills, which had been absorbed at the time, but as it filtered down it reached impermeable rock and was forced to the surface at Mendips, causing a flood.

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The flood at Lynmouth carried huge boulders and uprooted trees with it, and the artificial flood prevention structures concentrated the flow further, causing increased damage to the area.  Bridges acted as barriers, collecting water and debris behind it, which eventually burst over the top in the form of a tidal wave.

The human toll of this flood was high, 34 people lost their lives, 90 houses were destroyed, 130 cars destroyed and 19 boats lost or destroyed.  Many repairs to the town were required to prevent future flooding.

The Mendips flood resulted in less deaths than the Lynmouth flood, only ...

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