Humber

Humber
The Humber Bridge viewed from the south-east
Mouth of the Humber
Location
CountryEngland
Counties
CitiesKingston upon Hull
TownsBrough, Grimsby, Immingham, Barton upon Humber, Cleethorpes
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationTrent Falls
 • coordinates53°42′03″N 0°41′28″W / 53.7008°N 0.6911°W / 53.7008; -0.6911
Mouth 
 • location
North Sea, between Spurn Head
 • coordinates
53°32′34″N 0°05′32″E / 53.5427°N 0.0923°E / 53.5427; 0.0923
Length38.5 mi (62.0 km)
Basin size24,240 km2 (9,360 sq mi)
Discharge 
 • locationfreshwater inflow
 • average250 m3/s (8,800 cu ft/s)
 • maximum1,500 m3/s (53,000 cu ft/s)
Basin features
Tributaries 
 • leftRiver Ouse, River Hull
 • rightRiver Trent, River Ancholme, River Freshney
Designation
Official nameHumber Estuary
Designated28 July 1994
Reference no.663

The Humber /ˈhʌmbər/ is a large tidal estuary on the east coast of Northern England. It is formed at Trent Falls, Faxfleet, by the confluence of the tidal rivers Ouse and Trent. From there to the North Sea, it forms part of the boundary between the East Riding of Yorkshire on the north bank and North Lincolnshire on the south bank. Also known as the River Humber, it is tidal its entire length.

Below Trent Falls, the Humber passes the junction with the Market Weighton Canal on the north shore, the confluence of the River Ancholme on the south shore; between North Ferriby and South Ferriby and under the Humber Bridge; between Barton-upon-Humber on the south bank and Kingston upon Hull on the north bank (where the River Hull joins), then meets the North Sea between Cleethorpes on the Lincolnshire side and the long and thin headland of Spurn Head to the north.

Ports on the Humber include the Port of Hull, the Port of Grimsby and the Port of Immingham; there are lesser ports at New Holland and North Killingholme Haven. The estuary is navigable for the largest of deep-sea vessels. Inland connections for smaller craft are extensive but handle only a quarter of the goods traffic handled in the Thames.