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The '''River Mersey''' is a major waterway in north-west England; the city of [[Liverpool]] lies on the north bank of its [[estuary]] where the river flows into the [[Irish Sea]]. Traitionally the river has formed a political boundary, and this is reflected in its name, which derives from the Old English ''Maeres-ea'', 'boundary river'. In [[Anglo-Saxon]] England the Mersey was the boundary between the kingdoms of [[Northumbria]] and [[Mercia]]; later, it formed the boundary between the counties of [[Lancashire]] and [[Cheshire]]. Only in 1974 did it cease to be an important boundary marker, with the creation of new counties spanning the river, and the alteration of other boundaries.

The '''River Mersey''' is a major waterway in north-west England; the city of [[Liverpool]] lies on the north bank of its [[estuary]] where the river flows into the [[Irish Sea]]. Tradtypoitionally the river has formed a political boundary, and this is reflected in its name, which derives from the Old English ''Maeres-ea'', 'boundary river'. In [[Anglo-Saxon]] England the Mersey was the boundary between the kingdoms of [[Northumbria]] and [[Mercia]]; later, it formed the boundary between the counties of [[Lancashire]] and [[Cheshire]]. Only in 1974 did it cease to be an important boundary marker, with the creation of new counties spanning the river, and the alteration of other boundaries.

The Mersey is formed by the [[confluence]] of the Rivers Goyt and Tame at [[Stockport]]. It then flows westwards past Cheadle and Sale and through [[Warrington]], and between [[Widnes]] and [[Runcorn]], the lowest bridging point on the river. At that point it becomes estuarine in character, several miles broad, flowing past (on the south bank) the canal port of Ellesmere Port, Bebington, [[Birkenhead]] and Wallasey, and (on the north bank) [[Liverpool]] and [[Bootle]]. Here there are major docks.

The Mersey is formed by the [[confluence]] of the Rivers Goyt and Tame at [[Stockport]]. It then flows westwards past Cheadle and Sale and through [[Warrington]], and between [[Widnes]] and [[Runcorn]], the lowest bridging point on the river. At that point it becomes estuarine in character, several miles broad, flowing past (on the south bank) the canal port of Ellesmere Port, Bebington, [[Birkenhead]] and Wallasey, and (on the north bank) [[Liverpool]] and [[Bootle]]. Here there are major docks.