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The Cheddar Yeo is a small river in Somerset, England.〔There are several rivers called the Yeo in the West Country of England: see River Yeo. ''Yeo'' is from a Saxon word ''ēa'', meaning simply "river", "stream", or "water" district (cf. French ''l'eau'')'.〕 Beneath the limestone of the Mendip Hills it forms the largest underground river system in Britain.〔 After emerging into Cheddar Gorge it flows through the village of Cheddar, where it has been used in the past to power mills. From the Middle Ages until the 19th century the river had ports for seagoing vessels but is no longer navigable. Some of the water, which is of good quality, is diverted into Cheddar Reservoir to provide drinking water for Bristol. ==Course== The Yeo rises from a spring near Charterhouse and then disappears under the Limestone of the Mendip Hills before reappearing in Gough's Cave before emerging into Cheddar Gorge. Within Gough's Cave the river forms the largest underground river system in Britain.〔 From a point relatively close to the areas of the cave open to the public, the cave-divers' descent into Sump 1a begins through a tight passage known as Dire Straits. The bottom of that passage opens into the river passage, which is several meters across. This has been explored for downstream, whilst upstream a dive of brings the diver out in a long chamber named Lloyd Hall (which can now also be reached by an alternative, dry, route).〔 which contains a first-hand account of the exploration of the river passage by Richard Stevenson〕〔 – which also contains a detailed description of the cave.〕 Another dive of through Sump 1b, finishing with an ascent through a rising passage, leads to another chamber, long and wide at its widest point, and full of large boulders, called Bishop's Palace. This chamber is the largest chamber currently found in the Cheddar caves. Further on, three sump pools (named the Duck Ponds) lead to Sump 2 which is about deep at its lowest point and long.〔〔 Air is again reached at Sheppard's Crook, which is followed by Sump 3. This sump is deep and at its bottommost point is about below sea level. Following Sump 3, a wide ascending passage continues for before reaching an impassable blockage, still below the water's surface.〔〔 After emerging from the cave the river flows through Cheddar past the site of a Saxon palace, in the grounds of The Kings of Wessex School, together with a 14th-century chapel dedicated to St. Columbanus. Roman remains have also been uncovered at the site.〔 It then flows south under a disused railway bridge which used to carry the Cheddar Valley line and west through Rackley before joining the River Axe. The catchment area is .〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Cheddar Yeo」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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