The narrow river babbles gently as it makes its way through the moss-covered stones. Walkers on the banks have no idea what is happening just a few metres below the surface – until they come across a sign: ‘Warning, the Strid is dangerous and has cost lives in the past’
The Bolton Strid is a section of the River Wharfe in Yorkshire, Great Britain. At Bolton Strid, the Wharfe suddenly narrows from up to 10 metres to around 2 metres. The previously wide river becomes an idyllic stream. But appearances are deceptive. Due to the hard stone banks, the previously wide water masses are suddenly forced through a narrow section. This creates high water pressure, which carves a deep gorge into the rock. It is almost as if the river has been turned 90 degrees.
Scientists still don’t know exactly how deep the river is and what it looks like down there. The current of rivers is usually strongest where the most water flows. However, as the space in the Strid goes into the depths, the current is also strongest there. Everything that falls in is drawn downwards, making measurements almost impossible.
The Bolton Strid is also dangerous because of the cavities that form eddies at depth and are also known in physics as turbulent currents. If a person is pulled into one of these cavities by these currents, they have no way of getting back up under their own steam.
Nevertheless, people repeatedly use the river as a test of courage and try to jump to the other side. Precisely because the river appears so calm and innocent on the surface, it is often underestimated – with often fatal consequences. It is unclear how many people have already died in the Bolton Strid. The last known case was an 8-year-old boy in 2010.
The area around the river, however, lies in the tranquil countryside below the Yorkshire Dales National Park and is ideal for walking. The area is free to enter – there are no opening hours.
Photo: Bolton Strid; Credits: Pixabay/TimHill
