River Esk, North Yorkshire

River Esk
River Esk near its mouth at Whitby
Course of the Esk
Location
CountryEngland
CountiesNorth Yorkshire
TownsWhitby
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationThe Esklets near Westerdale
 • coordinates54°23′56″N 0°58′40″W / 54.3990°N 0.9779°W / 54.3990; -0.9779
 • elevation340 m (1,120 ft)
Mouth 
 • location
North Sea at Whitby
 • coordinates
54°29′33″N 0°36′44″W / 54.4925°N 0.6122°W / 54.4925; -0.6122
Length45 km (28 mi)
Basin size362 km2 (140 sq mi)
Discharge 
 • locationSleights
 • average4.8 m3/s (170 cu ft/s)
 • maximum350 m3/s (12,000 cu ft/s)
Whitby
Source
Location of Source and Whitby within North Yorkshire

The River Esk is a river in North Yorkshire, England that empties into the North Sea at Whitby after a course of around 28 miles (45 km) through Eskdale. The name of the river is derived from the Brythonic word ‘isca’ meaning ‘water’. The Esk is the only major river in Yorkshire that flows direct into the North Sea; all other watercourses defined as being major rivers by the Environment Agency flow into the North Sea via the River Tees or the Humber Estuary.