Severn

Severn, river, Canada

Severn (sĕv`ərn).

1 River, c.420 mi (680 km) long, rising in W Ont., Canada, and flowing NE through Severn Lake to Hudson Bay. Fort Severn, a Hudson's Bay Company trading post established (1689) at the mouth of the river, was captured (1690) by Pierre le Moyne, sieur d'Iberville. The post was rebuilt in 1759 and has been in continuous operation since.

2 River, c.20 mi (30 km) long, rising from the north end of Lake Couchiching, S Ont., Canada, and flowing NW to Georgian Bay of Lake Huron. It drains Lake Couchiching and Lake Simcoe and forms part of the inland waterway system linking Georgian Bay with Lake Ontario via the Trent Canal. There are two large hydroelectric stations on its course.

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Severn, river, Great Britain

Severn (sĕv`ərn), Lat. Sabrina, one of the principal rivers of Great Britain, c.200 mi (320 km) long, rising on Plinlimmon Mt., W Wales, and flowing NE and E to Shrewsbury, W England, and from there SE, S, and SW—through an estuary—to the Bristol Channel. Worcester, Gloucester, and many smaller towns are on its banks. The tributaries include the Teme, Avon, and Stour. It is connected by canal with the Thames, Mersey, Trent, and other rivers. A railroad tunnel (opened 1886) more than 4 mi (6.4 km) long passes under the estuary. The Severn Road Bridge (opened 1966) is one of the world's longest (3,240 ft/988 m) suspension bridges. The river is an important transportation route. Because of the conformation of the estuary, a tidal bore occurs up to Gloucester.