Some of the rivers that started life high up in the Dark Peak as fast flowing streams are now wider and flow much slower because the land is flatter here. The water is quite pure and many plants and animals that can't survive pollution are found. The larvae of the Stonefly, MAYFLY and CADDISFLY provide a tasty meal for the DIPPER, shown here to the right.

As the river slows and moves out of the Dales, bends in the river, called MEANDERS can be seen. You can see lots of examples where the river deposits the materials that it carries. Sand, silt, mud and gravel begin to form small beaches on the inside of the meanders. The faster flowing water on the outside of the meander, causes erosion.