Landscapes of the UK: Case Studies

Geomorphic Processes: 

• Landslides - mass movement
  • Reduced by vegetation as it binds the soil together - it also lessens the rate of erosion
• Traction on the bed
• Removal of sediment from slopes creates steep sided v-shaped valleys

Landforms:

• Upper Wye:
  • Mountainous impermeable landscapes
  • Bogs, heaths, moorlands, floodplains and limestone areas
  • V-shaped valley - It is a result of glaciations
  • Waterfalls and rapids
  • Wye Gorge (between Goodrich and Chepstow
• Lower Wye:
  • Symonds Yat - limestone outcrops rising over 120m (tourism)
  • Bristol Estuary

Management:

• Some areas are not permitted to be constructed on due to high flood risk
• Chemicals in agricultural areas are controlled
• Slowing the rate water enters channel by surface run off reduces flooding by 70%
• vegetation also reduces chance of landslides and soil and river erosion by binding soil
• Artifiical levees considered
• SSSI
• 3% of Urbanisation on the river

Human Impacts of Landscapes:

• Bulding settlements channels the flooding
• The river is used for irrigation in agricultural areas - high consumer of water
• Quarrying for limestone caused surface runoff and gradient change
• Waterfalls were removed which left a short stretch of rapids
• Festival on Hay-on-Wye - thousands of visitors
• Rhayador - the frist town the river passes through
• Fishing for Salmon