I will be analysing six different sites in the River Wye, at the western part of the Peak District. The six sites that I am visiting and investigating are: south of Buxton, eastern part of Buxton, Millers Dale, Litton Mill, Ashford on water, Bakewell.

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For my GCSE Geography coursework I will be analysing six different sites in the River Wye, at the western part of the Peak District. The six sites that I am visiting and investigating are: south of Buxton, eastern part of Buxton, Millers Dale, Litton Mill, Ashford on water, Bakewell.

Brief Background about the Peak District and the river Wye

The Peak District was England’s first National Park, dazzling its importance as a beautiful Landscape.

The Scenery of the Peak District consists of generally isolated and extraordinary hills and coasts, as well as the natural wetlands. All the flora and fauna habitats which exist today have been intensely affected by thousands of years of the hustle and bustle of us humans. This now has changed the landscape promptly. For example most of the land of the Peak district would have been forested if there was no human activity. By keeping the national park uncontaminated and farming the land, the people have now produced a prosperous, hygienic and historical view with a larger variety of habitats.

The River Wye is the foremost river of the western part of the peak, increasing on Axe Edge above Buxton and streaming eastwards through Buxton and Bakewell to connect to the Derwent of Rowsley. The river goes underground subsequently to its source and re-emerges in Poole’s Cavern which then runs down the town centre of Buxton.

Between Buxton and Ashford the river has had to sculpt an extended series of gorges which exemplify this section and the river always lies in the deep-cut valley which is often lined with cliffs and is sometimes outstandingly narrow.

So why do we Study Rivers?        

        We study rivers because just like us human beings have homes, the flora and fauna also live and have their own territory. This means little water creatures have their homes under rocks or on top of the rocks in order for them to survive. Furthermore foods webs help us also identify what kind of producers, consumers live and how they survive. Nevertheless, some rivers like the River Thames also run through cities. We also obtain knowledge about the speed of the river, whether the river is oxygenated or the bedload in the water is affecting the landforms causing it to erode. This may well affect the aquatic floras in terms of reproduction etc.

River variables change downstream. The variables which should change are:

  • Velocity: it always increases however a small amount than width then the channel becomes smoother as there is less friction downstream.

  • Depth: the depth of the river increases only a tiny amount however it decreases the vertical (lateral) erosion.
  • Width: the width increases for the reason that the river becomes wider as it progresses. However, it does not erode sideways as it is flowing upstream because the water clashes with the v - shaped valley which eventually gets wider.

  • Discharge: is the amount of water in the river. To calculate how much water there is in the river we as a class have come up with an equation which is area×speed. Discharge increases because tributaries join in the main river; hence, there is more water. Moreover, when a river meets a tributary then this precise part is called a ‘Confluence’
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  • Bedload size: it decreases because there is a big supply of bedload which has fallen of the valley side. It is then transported downstream where there is flat land with no valleys.
  • Bedload shape: the bedload in the water becomes rounder due to attrition taking place. This means when the rocks are angular meaning rocks which are sharp and edgy, it hits against other rocks causing it chip of the edges, which eventually gets rounder.

  • Turbulence: it decreases in the way that the bedload in the water erodes which then ...

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