The River Documental website is a website used to document river and lake information, such as lengths, fish, and general facts. Its main focus is on River and Lake fishing.
1.Body Types and Differentiating
1.1.Rivers
The water bodies covered on here are variations of lakes and rivers, but they can get confusing. These are guides to learning them:
River: A river is a long water stream that can refer to all water streams, but also refers to major rivers when in name. (examples; River Tyne, River Team, River Tweed)
Burn: A burn is a smaller stream than a major river and usually are used to refer to minor tributaries. (examples; Ouse Burn, Lumley Park Burn, Monkton Burn)
Beck: A beck is a narrow river that runs through a ravine known as a gill, and refers to these as becks in Durham, Lancashire, Cumbria, Yorkshire, and Norfolk. (examples; Skelton Beck, Croxdale Beck, Old Durham Beck)
Gill or Ghyll: A gill is usually a deep ravine that can sometimes have a stream flowing through. Sometimes the stream itself is referred to as a gill as opposed to a beck. (examples; Maly Gill, Kate's Gill)
Sike or Syke or Dike: Another name for a beck or gill, found in Cumbria, Yorkshire, North East, and Scottish Borders. Rarely known as a Dike. (examples; Black Sike, Red Sike)
Brook: A brook refers to shallower and small streams.
Creek: A creek is a tidal river forming at high tides. (examples; Sandy's Letch)
Gut or Cut: A gut is a smaller creek. (examples; Willington Gut, Lemington Gut)
Canal: A canal is an artificial long stretch of water used for water travel. (examples; Ripon Canal, Selby Canal, Market Weighton Canal)
Drain: A drain is an artificial stream used to store water for flood management. (examples; The Trench, Ingoldmells Main Drain)
Letch: Letch is a term for a tiny stream that means that of "pool". (examples; Sandy's Letch)
1.2.Lakes
Lake: A lake is a large and typically natural body of water larger than a pond typically. (examples; Clockburn Lake, Gosforth Lake, Mount Pleasant Lake)
Glacial Lake: A glacial lake is a lake formed from melting glacial activity. (examples; Derwentwater)
Ribbon Lake: A ribbon lake is a long and narrow lake. (examples; Windermere, Ullswater)
Pond: A pond is a smaller and typically natural body of water smaller than a lake. (examples; Corgi Pond, Norwood Pond, Brasside Pond)
Reservoir: A reservoir is a large artificial lake used for water storage. (examples; Derwent Reservoir, Kielder Water, Burnhope Reservoir)
Oxbow Lake: An oxbow lake is a former river stretch that is left behind after a river changes its course. (examples; Butterby Oxbow)
2.General Terms
Ait or Eyot: An island that is formed in a river, usually tidal islands.
Angling: Fishing technique involving fishing line and fishing hook, and typically a fishing rod sometimes.
Body: In terms of geography is the area of water.
Bridge: A crossing that is used to cross over areas for convenience, including water bodies.
Catchment: Area of land where water meets at a single point, such as the sea or a lake.
Confluence: Where two streams meet to form into one, such as the River Tyne.
Culvert: A tunnel or cover to place a stream underground for conservatory purposes. Examples of culverts is River Team, River Don.
Dock: An artifical water area designated for vessels.
Estuary: The tidal area of a river, typically at the mouth, where the channel widens and deepens.
Ford: A shallow area of a stream to cross at.
Handlining: Fishing technique where the fishing line is used with hands rather than a fishing rod.
Mouth: Where a stream flows into another water body, including another stream, the sea, or lake.
Railway bridge: A bridge that allows rail transport to travel across.
Sluice: A water channel containing a sluice gate.
Sluice gate: Gate used on sluices to control water levels.
Source: Where a stream originates from.
Swing bridge: A river crossing that rotates horizontally to allow vessels by
Tilt bridge: A river crossing that rotates vertically to allow vessels by.
Tributary: A stream that flows out of another river at its mouth.
Vessel: Type of water vehicle.
Weir: Controls the water level and flow of a river.
Last Updated: 27th November 2025 [23:01]; Updated 2 times