The Thames

Question 1

What population does the Thames basin contain?

Answer 1

It contains a population of 13 million.

Question 2

What area does the Thames basin cover?

Answer 2

It covers an area of 13,000km2 including 14 counties.

Question 3

Where is the Thames basin located?

Answer 3

Located in south-east England

Question 4

Give examples of some of the rivers in the Thames basin.

Answer 4

It is the main basin of the River Thames & contains tributaries such as the Cole and Lee.

Question 5

Compare water use on the Mekong to the Thames.

Answer 5

The Mekong brings irrigation to 80% of rice production in the Lower Mekong basin (4 million hectares of land is irrigated)
and 1/3 of the 60 million use the Mekong for drinking water.
4700 million litres of water is abstracted daily from the Thames basin rivers and groundwater of the basin.
The demand for water is influenced by: Water used in the home and garden (domestic use), losses through leakage (from distribution systems and consumer’s plumbing), population growth and household size, and development pressure and economic activity.

Question 6

How does the Thames allow development?

Answer 6

Reason for development: high demand for water involved in drinking, sanitary use (hygiene) and leisure activities for the population of 13 million in the drainage basin area. The high discharge of the river and its ability to provide safe water contributes to its development as it is a usable resource.

Question 7

What are the similarities between manufacture on the Thames and Rhine?

Answer 7

Car manufacturers (including Mini located in Oxford) iron & steel works located on the floodplain due to the flat land and then available water for cooling, similarly 10% of the world’s chemical production occurs in the Rhine River Basin

Question 8

What natural resources are extracted on the Thames.

Answer 8

The Thames area contains chalk, limestone, sand and gravel which can be extracted.

Question 9

What transport and trade industries are there on the Thames?

Answer 9

Transport and trade industries (e.g. warehousing at Osney [Oxford] west of the city’s main railway station, and ports [the Port of London and Thamesport])

Question 10

What is the reason for developing industry on the Thames?

Answer 10

Reason for development: opportunity surrounding the geological features combined with transport routes and trading opportunities.

Question 11

Describe residential development on the Thames.

Answer 11

Settlement (residential development)
Located on higher ground to avoid flooding (Oxford city)
Beneficial due to the drinkable water supply, trade potential and flat land for building.

Question 12

What are the reasons for developing settlement on the Thames?

Answer 12

Reason for development: high demand for housing in south-east England (because of migration, jobs in the basin area and the desire to redevelop former industrial areas (Thames Gateway initiative)

Question 13

Describe farming on the Thames, Rhine and the Mekong.

Answer 13

On the Thames there is Large supply of water, gentle slopes allow machinery and fertile silt for nutrient-rich soil.
On the Mekong 10 million hectares of cultivated land is used for rice farming and
60% of the River Mekong Basin is involved in agriculture.
Similarly on the Rhine 50% of the river basin is used for agriculture, fertile soils along mouth and banks.

Question 14

Describe transport and trade on the Thames and the Rhine.

Answer 14

The waterways permit river bus systems (such as the Woolwich Ferry)
Jobs are created in the trade industry of transport, storage and logistics and Ports include the port of London and Thamesport. The Rhine also heavily used for trade. Yearly 40 million tonnes of cargo is transported by barge and ocean-vessels. It connects the port in Rotterdam of the Netherlands with the world’s largest inland port in Duisburg, Germany.

Question 15

What was the reasons for the development of trade and transport on the Thames?

Answer 15

Reason for development: congestion in the city of London creating a demand for less busy routes to various destinations and international/overseas competition for goods contributing to trade

Question 16

Describe energy development on the Thames.

Answer 16

The Mapledurham Estate on the banks of the Thames in Oxfordshire has been redeveloped for hydroelectric power
It provides Marks & Spencer with 500,000kWh of electricity per year

Question 17

What were the reasons for energy development on the Thames?

Answer 17

Reason for development: previous mills built enabling their redevelopment and subsequent use for energy and the Renewable Energy Project of Marks & Spencer encouraged the redevelopment of a mill for renewable energy (5 year fixed contract for renewable energy)

Question 18

Describe flood defences on the Thames.

Answer 18

The Thames barrier protects an estimated £200 billion worth of property and infrastructure, the London tube network and other historic buildings like the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben.

Question 19

What the reasons for developing flood defences on the Thames?

Answer 19

Reason for development: necessity of protecting the people of the Thames basin, infrastructure and important governmental buildings

Question 20

Describe the recreation and leisure on the Thames.

Answer 20

Recreation and leisure include,
Fishing (crayfish trapping in which a license is required by the Environment Agency)
Swimming, canoeing, sailing and rowing (The Cotswold Water Park is comprised of many lakes).
This gives an opportunity for environmental enhancement and the overall upkeep of the area.

Question 21

What conservation occurs on the Thames?

Answer 21

The River Thames Society encourage visiting to nature reserves (e.g. Rainham Marshes in Essex) It,
Protects salmon, herons and otters.
Tidies up the Thames campaign.

Question 22

What were the reasons for developing conservation on the Thames?

Answer 22

Reason for development: in 2011 nearby to the Camels Head sewage treatment works the standard of water quality was not met which would have subsequent impacts on fish species. Conservation was put in place (Tidy Up the Thames campaign)

Question 23

Describe a conflict on the Thames concerning fishing.

Answer 23

Fishing vs tourist activities (cruises) as areas of the river are blocked by each other. Water pollution from boats can impact fish populations and fishermen’s income. Resolution: the River Thames has been divided into separate areas (for fishing, cruises etc.) so conflicts do not occur, Wychwood of Oxfordshire does not allow fishing.

Question 24

Describe a conflict on the Thames concerning industry.

Answer 24

Recreation and leisure vs industry as material extraction causes the river beds to deepen presenting hazards for canoers, swimmer, punters etc. Resolution: separate areas for activities (Cotswold Water Park for water activities) that are aside from each other.

Question 25

Describe a conflict on the Thames concerning energy development.

Answer 25

Conservation vs energy development as the hydroelectric power mill may disrupt fish migration and their overall livelihood. Resolution: 3.5m diameter machinery to allow the movement of fish