The River Eden is the longest river in Cumbria. It flows for 100km through the north and east of the county from its source in the Pennines to its mouth at the Solway Firth. It draws its water from a catchment area of 2288 square kilometres in which 167,000 people live. The River Eden is one of England's cleanest rivers and is a breeding river for salmon and trout. The river and its tributaries is a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and much of the river is classified as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) due to the quality and variety of wildlife found along the length of the river. Water levels in the river can vary dramatically, especially in the winter months, with heavy rainfall and snow melt in the surrounding mountains. This module will guide you down the River Eden, picking out features where the river has influenced the landscape and the lives of the people that live, work and visit the river.