Knowledge

Menai Strait

Source 📝

417: 87: 768: 59: 705: 94: 552:. By this time, the tidal flow from the Caernarfon end is weakening and the tide continues to rise in height but the direction of tidal flow is reversed. A similar sequence is seen in reverse on a falling tide. This means that slack water between the bridges tends to occur approximately one hour before high tide or low tide. 588: 828:
had been proposed by government to tackle congestion on the other two crossings. However, on 14 February 2023, the Welsh Government announced that the project would not go ahead, citing efforts to reduce car usage, its environmental impact and it being a "blot" on the landscape. Issues with financing
555:
Theoretically it is possible to ford the strait in the Swellies at low water, spring tides when the depth may fall to less than 0.5 metres (1.6 ft). However, at these times a strong current of around 4.8 knots (8.9 km/h) is running, making the passage extremely difficult. Elsewhere in the
547:
The tidal effects observed along the banks of the strait can be confusing. A rising tide approaches from the south-west, causing the water in the strait to flow north-eastwards as the level rises. The tide also flows around Anglesey until, after a few hours, it starts to flow into the strait in a
396:
scouring the underlying rock; the grain of which also runs in the same direction. The result was a series of linear bedrock hollows across the region, the deepest of which was flooded by the sea as world ocean levels rose at the end of the
919: 381:
The present day channel is a result of glacial erosion of the bedrock along a line of weakness associated with the Menai Strait fault system. During a series of
603:
Because the strait has such unusual tidal conditions, coupled with very low wave heights because of its sheltered position, it presents a unique and diverse
518: 129: 86: 1367: 1174: 1055: 833:, deputy minister for climate change, later stated the crossing could be considered again as part of a wider review into the infrastructure of 610:
The depth of the channel reaches 15 metres (49 ft) in places, and the current can exceed 7 knots (13 km/h). It is very rich in
571:
on both banks and on several of the islands, helped make the Strait an important source of fish for many centuries. Eight of the numerous
284: 642: 871: 1304: 479: 345:
at the two ends of the strait cause very strong currents which create dangerous conditions. One of the most hazardous areas is the
976: 467:. However they started quarreling over the plunder and fought a battle at the Menai Strait. Guttorm won the battle by praying to 1227: 1149: 994: 416: 1342: 1323: 1285: 1266: 684:
only found in this part of North Wales. The population contains about 30 plants, and most of these are thought to be mature.
1372: 1377: 1078: 767: 506: 363: 274: 260: 251:. The strait is about 25 km (16 mi) long and varies in width from 400 metres (1,300 ft) between 58: 943: 804:. Between 1970 and 1972, the bridge underwent a redesign in order to accommodate what would later become the 734: 720: 712: 592: 572: 453: 305: 291: 1008: 958: 793: 482:– the future Saint Magnus. He had a reputation for piety and gentleness. Refusing to fight in the raid on 1362: 749: 662: 630: 323: 931: 846: 825: 511: 464: 829:
the project was later stated by the government as another reason why the project could not proceed.
756: 646: 576: 549: 497: 398: 218: 704: 1337:. Monograph series / Society for the History of Technology, no. 10. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press. 556:
strait the minimum depth is never less than 2 metres (6.6 ft) until the great sand flats at
530: 373:
end is also hazardous because of the frequently shifting sand banks that make up Caernarfon bar.
525:
along the Menai Strait, and around Anglesey. After the company's voluntary liquidation in 1962,
816:. The bridge is grade two listed and is the more common crossing point out of the two bridges. 1338: 1319: 1300: 1281: 1262: 1096: 771: 726: 618: 335: 319: 474:
In the 12th century, a later Viking raid and battle in the Menai Strait are recounted in the
939: 783: 775: 537: 526: 309: 72: 980: 561: 475: 256: 180: 1297:
Crossing the Menai: an illustrated history of the ferries and bridges of the Menai Strait
1280:. Caernarfon's Yesterdays series, no. 2 (in English and Welsh). Caernarfon: T.M. Hughes. 1030: 935: 973: 730: 708: 670: 492: 429: 331: 301: 240: 209: 48: 1356: 529:
took over the services for a while. Now, every year for two weeks in the summer, the
360: 161: 355:), between the two bridges, where rocks near the surface cause over-falls and local 738: 622: 536:
undertakes a similar service. The most recent service appears to have been Feb-2021
444: 196: 852: 687:
Much of the land on Anglesey at the eastern end of the strait is designated as an
641:
The same unique ecology and geomorphology has let to a number of designations of
1150:"Third Menai crossing and 'Red Route' axed as major road-building plans scrapped" 920:"Menai Strait fault system: An early Caledonian terrane boundary in north Wales" 834: 666: 617:
The existence of this unique ecology was a major factor in the establishment of
557: 449: 382: 270: 192: 830: 568: 514:. The first of the opera's nine parts is called "The Battle of Menai Strait". 468: 385: 370: 252: 188: 1200: 1175:"Plans for third Menai crossing axed in review of road improvements in Wales" 1122: 792:
to the mainland. The bridge, 461 metres long and 40 metres tall, carries the
676:). The banks of the Menai Strait are home to the critically endangered Menai 539:, since when the vessel has been taken to dry dock for essential repair work 144: 131: 17: 677: 522: 356: 248: 244: 184: 115: 788:
Opened in 1850, the Britannia Bridge was built as a rail bridge connecting
729:, and the first bridge to cross the Menai Strait. The bridge, designed by 1335:
The Britannia Bridge: the generation and diffusion of technical knowledge
813: 805: 797: 789: 745: 658: 483: 389: 346: 327: 228: 64: 809: 604: 587: 393: 232: 68: 974:
Aberlleiniog/Trecastell: Key historic landscape features and processes
900: 868:
a community project celebrating the two bridges along the Menai Strait
753: 741: 681: 611: 461: 224: 166: 752:. The bridge itself is grade one listed and a candidate to become a 725:
Opened in 1826, the Menai Bridge is a 417 metre long, 30 metre tall
388:
a succession of ice-sheets moved from northeast to southwest across
801: 766: 703: 586: 567:
The tides carry large quantities of fish, and the construction of
501: 487: 457: 415: 236: 865: 960:
Handbook of the origin of place-names in Wales and Monmouthshire
688: 342: 654: 650: 1228:"Welsh Government could 'look again' at third Menai crossing" 1259:
A review of the records of the Conway and the Menai Ferries
1201:"No money for major road projects in Wales, minister says" 944:
10.1130/0091-7613(1987)15<744:MSFSAE>2.0.CO;2
490:. This incident is recounted at length in the 1973 novel 1123:"All major road building projects in Wales are scrapped" 517:
From the 1890s until 1963, the pleasure steamers of the
1318:(new revised ed.). Llanrwst: Gwasg Carreg Gwalch. 591:
A crab wearing a sponge suit seen underwater below the
1079:"Statistics show more cars using the Britannia Bridge" 1097:"Third Menai Strait bridge 'could be built by 2021'" 627:
special area of conservation with marine components
176: 172: 160: 121: 111: 34: 855:- sea salt produced from the waters of the Strait 338:, which was severely damaged by a fire in 1970. 334:railway bridge completed in 1850 to a design by 247:in the north-east, which are both inlets of the 122: 1333:Rosenberg, Nathan; Vincenti, Walter G. (1978). 27:Tidal water between Anglesey and mainland Wales 983:www.heneb.co.uk, Gwynedd Archaeological Trust. 521:would ply their main route from Liverpool and 300:), which was completed in 1826 to a design by 1009:"Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)" 8: 1261:. Cardiff: University of Wales Press Board. 680:. The plant is an extremely rare species of 478:as playing an important role in the life of 995:"Seas and Oceans: environmental protection" 519:Liverpool and North Wales Steamship Company 350: 313: 295: 278: 264: 40: 1257:Davies, Henry Rees; Jenkins, R.T. (1966). 31: 1278:The Ferries to Anglesey / Y fferïau i Fôn 895: 893: 273:. It contains several islands, including 259:to 7.5 kilometres (4.7 mi) between 889: 486:, he stayed on board his ship, singing 359:. This was the site of the loss of the 1148:Forgrave, Andrew (14 February 2023). 7: 369:in 1953. Entering the strait at the 93: 1226:Lennox, Aaran (19 February 2023). 901:"Menai Strait (BMLSS Information)" 689:area of outstanding natural beauty 629:. The waters are also a proposed 25: 963:. H.V. Southey, "Express" Office. 480:Magnus Erlendsson, Earl of Orkney 1368:Bodies of water of the Irish Sea 1077:Hearn, Elgan (19 January 2011). 1058:. Isle of Anglesey Council. 2008 1031:"Menai Strait Whitebeam Project" 993:John Shaw MP (5 December 2007). 808:, a dual carriageway connecting 661:woodland on the southern shore ( 92: 85: 57: 872:Live webcam of the Menai Strait 621:'s School of Ocean Sciences at 548:south-westerly direction from 420:The Menai Strait, painted 1860 227:which separates the island of 1: 625:, as well as its status as a 402: 290:The strait is bridged by the 110: 1295:Jones, Reg Chambers (2011). 918:Gibbons, Wes (August 1987). 837:, rather than individually. 737:, a road which connects the 223:'River Menai') is a 1276:Hughes, T. Meirion (1997). 645:along the strait including 471:and Echmarcach was killed. 330:; it is an adaptation of a 1394: 781: 718: 507:The Martyrdom of St Magnus 439:, meaning "narrow water." 1299:. Wrexham: Bridge Books. 1011:. Natural Resources Wales 239:. It is situated between 80: 56: 39: 1314:Richards, Robin (2004). 849: – Queen of Gwynedd 957:Morgan, Thomas (1887). 820:Proposed third crossing 721:Menai Suspension Bridge 713:Menai Suspension Bridge 593:Menai Suspension Bridge 573:Menai Strait fish weirs 454:Echmarcach mac Ragnaill 292:Menai Suspension Bridge 283:), on which is located 1316:Two Bridges over Menai 1056:"Map of Anglesey AONB" 1035:www.fossilplants.co.uk 794:North Wales Coast Line 779: 716: 595: 421: 351: 314: 296: 279: 265: 243:in the south-west and 213: 41: 1179:North Wales Chronicle 770: 707: 631:Marine Nature Reserve 590: 460:with his friend, the 419: 324:North Wales Main Line 235:, on the mainland of 847:Angharad ferch Owain 826:Third Menai Crossing 512:Peter Maxwell Davies 465:Guttorm Gunnhildsson 145:53.18056°N 4.23333°W 1373:Straits of Anglesey 936:1987Geo....15..744G 757:World Heritage Site 647:Glannau Porthaethwy 577:scheduled monuments 560:are reached beyond 498:George Mackay Brown 496:by Orcadian author 448:, the 11th century 285:St Tysilio's Church 141: /  1378:Straits of Gwynedd 1207:. 19 February 2023 1181:. 15 February 2023 1129:. 14 February 2023 979:2016-08-06 at the 905:www.glaucus.org.uk 780: 717: 663:Coedydd Afon Menai 596: 500:, and in the 1977 422: 322:which carries the 150:53.18056; -4.23333 67:, looking towards 772:Robert Stephenson 727:suspension bridge 619:Bangor University 392:and neighbouring 341:The differential 336:Robert Stephenson 320:truss arch bridge 297:Pont Grog y Borth 222: 202: 201: 16:(Redirected from 1385: 1348: 1329: 1310: 1291: 1272: 1243: 1242: 1240: 1238: 1232:North Wales Live 1223: 1217: 1216: 1214: 1212: 1197: 1191: 1190: 1188: 1186: 1171: 1165: 1164: 1162: 1160: 1154:North Wales Live 1145: 1139: 1138: 1136: 1134: 1119: 1113: 1112: 1110: 1108: 1103:. 5 October 2017 1093: 1087: 1086: 1074: 1068: 1067: 1065: 1063: 1052: 1046: 1045: 1043: 1041: 1027: 1021: 1020: 1018: 1016: 1005: 999: 998: 990: 984: 971: 965: 964: 954: 948: 947: 915: 909: 908: 897: 784:Britannia Bridge 776:Britannia Bridge 763:Britannia Bridge 527:P and A Campbell 407: 404: 354: 317: 310:Britannia Bridge 304:and carries the 299: 282: 268: 217: 156: 155: 153: 152: 151: 146: 142: 139: 138: 137: 134: 124: 96: 95: 89: 73:Britannia Bridge 63:The strait from 61: 52: 44: 32: 21: 1393: 1392: 1388: 1387: 1386: 1384: 1383: 1382: 1353: 1352: 1351: 1345: 1332: 1326: 1313: 1307: 1294: 1288: 1275: 1269: 1256: 1252: 1247: 1246: 1236: 1234: 1225: 1224: 1220: 1210: 1208: 1199: 1198: 1194: 1184: 1182: 1173: 1172: 1168: 1158: 1156: 1147: 1146: 1142: 1132: 1130: 1121: 1120: 1116: 1106: 1104: 1095: 1094: 1090: 1076: 1075: 1071: 1061: 1059: 1054: 1053: 1049: 1039: 1037: 1029: 1028: 1024: 1014: 1012: 1007: 1006: 1002: 992: 991: 987: 981:Wayback Machine 972: 968: 956: 955: 951: 917: 916: 912: 899: 898: 891: 886: 881: 862: 843: 822: 786: 765: 723: 702: 697: 639: 601: 585: 545: 476:Orkneyinga Saga 414: 405: 379: 257:Abermenai Point 149: 147: 143: 140: 135: 132: 130: 128: 127: 107: 106: 105: 104: 103: 102: 101: 97: 76: 46: 28: 23: 22: 15: 12: 11: 5: 1391: 1389: 1381: 1380: 1375: 1370: 1365: 1355: 1354: 1350: 1349: 1343: 1330: 1324: 1311: 1305: 1292: 1286: 1273: 1267: 1253: 1251: 1248: 1245: 1244: 1218: 1192: 1166: 1140: 1114: 1088: 1069: 1047: 1022: 1000: 985: 966: 949: 910: 888: 887: 885: 882: 880: 877: 876: 875: 869: 866:Menai Heritage 861: 860:External links 858: 857: 856: 850: 842: 839: 824:Since 2007, a 821: 818: 782:Main article: 764: 761: 733:, carries the 731:Thomas Telford 719:Main article: 709:Thomas Telford 701: 698: 696: 693: 638: 635: 600: 597: 584: 581: 544: 541: 413: 410: 378: 375: 315:Pont Britannia 302:Thomas Telford 241:Caernarfon Bay 200: 199: 178: 174: 173: 170: 169: 164: 158: 157: 125: 119: 118: 113: 109: 108: 99: 98: 91: 90: 84: 83: 82: 81: 78: 77: 62: 54: 53: 37: 36: 26: 24: 14: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1390: 1379: 1376: 1374: 1371: 1369: 1366: 1364: 1361: 1360: 1358: 1346: 1340: 1336: 1331: 1327: 1321: 1317: 1312: 1308: 1306:9781844940745 1302: 1298: 1293: 1289: 1283: 1279: 1274: 1270: 1264: 1260: 1255: 1254: 1249: 1233: 1229: 1222: 1219: 1206: 1202: 1196: 1193: 1180: 1176: 1170: 1167: 1155: 1151: 1144: 1141: 1128: 1124: 1118: 1115: 1102: 1098: 1092: 1089: 1084: 1080: 1073: 1070: 1057: 1051: 1048: 1036: 1032: 1026: 1023: 1010: 1004: 1001: 996: 989: 986: 982: 978: 975: 970: 967: 962: 961: 953: 950: 945: 941: 937: 933: 929: 925: 921: 914: 911: 906: 902: 896: 894: 890: 883: 878: 873: 870: 867: 864: 863: 859: 854: 851: 848: 845: 844: 840: 838: 836: 832: 827: 819: 817: 815: 811: 807: 803: 799: 795: 791: 785: 777: 773: 769: 762: 760: 758: 755: 751: 747: 743: 740: 736: 732: 728: 722: 714: 710: 706: 699: 694: 692: 690: 685: 683: 679: 675: 672: 668: 664: 660: 656: 652: 648: 644: 636: 634: 632: 628: 624: 620: 615: 613: 608: 606: 598: 594: 589: 582: 580: 578: 574: 570: 565: 563: 559: 553: 551: 543:Tidal effects 542: 540: 538: 535: 534: 528: 524: 520: 515: 513: 509: 508: 503: 499: 495: 494: 489: 485: 481: 477: 472: 470: 466: 463: 459: 456:plundered in 455: 451: 447: 446: 442:According to 440: 438: 434: 431: 427: 418: 411: 409: 406: 10,000 400: 395: 391: 387: 384: 376: 374: 372: 368: 367: 362: 361:training ship 358: 353: 348: 344: 339: 337: 333: 329: 325: 321: 316: 311: 307: 303: 298: 293: 288: 286: 281: 276: 275:Church Island 272: 267: 262: 261:Puffin Island 258: 254: 250: 246: 242: 238: 234: 230: 226: 220: 215: 211: 207: 198: 194: 190: 186: 182: 179: 175: 171: 168: 165: 163: 159: 154: 126: 120: 117: 114: 88: 79: 74: 70: 66: 60: 55: 50: 43: 38: 33: 30: 19: 18:Menai Straits 1363:Menai Strait 1334: 1315: 1296: 1277: 1258: 1250:Bibliography 1235:. Retrieved 1231: 1221: 1209:. Retrieved 1204: 1195: 1183:. Retrieved 1178: 1169: 1157:. Retrieved 1153: 1143: 1131:. Retrieved 1126: 1117: 1105:. Retrieved 1100: 1091: 1082: 1072: 1060:. Retrieved 1050: 1040:19 September 1038:. Retrieved 1034: 1025: 1013:. Retrieved 1003: 988: 969: 959: 952: 927: 923: 913: 904: 823: 787: 724: 700:Menai Bridge 686: 674:Traeth Lafan 673: 640: 626: 623:Menai Bridge 616: 609: 602: 566: 554: 546: 532: 516: 505: 491: 473: 445:Heimskringla 443: 441: 436: 432: 425: 423: 399:last ice age 380: 365: 340: 289: 280:Ynys Tysilio 266:Ynys Seiriol 206:Menai Strait 205: 203: 197:Menai Bridge 100:Menai Strait 75:to the left. 35:Menai Strait 29: 1237:19 February 1211:19 February 1185:17 February 1159:14 February 1133:17 February 1062:18 November 1015:18 November 835:North Wales 796:connecting 750:Holy Island 667:Lavan Sands 558:Lavan Sands 428:comes from 386:glaciations 383:Pleistocene 271:Penmaenmawr 193:Y Felinheli 177:Settlements 148: / 123:Coordinates 71:, with the 1357:Categories 1344:0262180871 1325:1845241304 1287:0952493624 1268:0708301088 1107:17 January 997:. Hansard. 930:(8): 744. 879:References 831:Lee Waters 569:fish weirs 469:Saint Olaf 450:Norse-Gael 371:Caernarfon 357:whirlpools 352:Pwll Ceris 308:, and the 253:Fort Belan 214:Afon Menai 189:Caernarfon 133:53°10′50″N 42:Afon Menai 1083:dailypost 853:Halen Môn 695:Crossings 678:Whitebeam 607:ecology. 550:Beaumaris 523:Llandudno 424:The name 249:Irish Sea 245:Conwy Bay 185:Beaumaris 136:4°14′00″W 116:Irish Sea 1205:BBC News 1127:BBC News 1101:BBC News 977:Archived 841:See also 814:Holyhead 798:Holyhead 790:Anglesey 746:Holyhead 575:are now 533:Balmoral 484:Anglesey 390:Anglesey 347:Swellies 328:A55 road 326:and the 229:Anglesey 112:Location 65:Anglesey 932:Bibcode 924:Geology 810:Chester 739:capital 612:sponges 605:benthic 583:Ecology 437:main-wy 433:main-aw 412:History 394:Gwynedd 377:Origins 332:tubular 306:A5 road 233:Gwynedd 221:  69:Gwynedd 1341:  1322:  1303:  1284:  1265:  874:Broken 754:UNESCO 742:London 682:Sorbus 671:Welsh: 665:) and 649:, the 599:Marine 562:Bangor 493:Magnus 488:psalms 462:Viking 452:ruler 366:Conway 269:) and 225:strait 181:Bangor 167:Strait 45:  884:Notes 802:Crewe 643:SSSIs 502:opera 458:Wales 430:Welsh 426:Menai 408:BC). 343:tides 237:Wales 231:from 210:Welsh 49:Welsh 1339:ISBN 1320:ISBN 1301:ISBN 1282:ISBN 1263:ISBN 1239:2023 1213:2023 1187:2023 1161:2023 1135:2023 1109:2023 1064:2017 1042:2021 1017:2017 637:Land 364:HMS 318:) a 255:and 219:lit. 204:The 162:Type 940:doi 812:to 806:A55 800:to 774:'s 748:on 744:to 711:'s 659:ash 655:oak 651:ivy 531:MV 510:by 435:or 1359:: 1230:. 1203:. 1177:. 1152:. 1125:. 1099:. 1081:. 1033:. 938:. 928:15 926:. 922:. 903:. 892:^ 759:. 735:A5 691:. 633:. 614:. 579:. 564:. 504:, 403:c. 287:. 216:, 212:: 195:, 191:, 187:, 183:, 1347:. 1328:. 1309:. 1290:. 1271:. 1241:. 1215:. 1189:. 1163:. 1137:. 1111:. 1085:. 1066:. 1044:. 1019:. 946:. 942:: 934:: 907:. 778:. 715:. 669:( 657:– 653:– 401:( 349:( 312:( 294:( 277:( 263:( 208:( 51:) 47:( 20:)

Index

Menai Straits
Welsh

Anglesey
Gwynedd
Britannia Bridge
Menai Strait is located in Anglesey
Irish Sea
53°10′50″N 4°14′00″W / 53.18056°N 4.23333°W / 53.18056; -4.23333
Type
Strait
Bangor
Beaumaris
Caernarfon
Y Felinheli
Menai Bridge
Welsh
lit.
strait
Anglesey
Gwynedd
Wales
Caernarfon Bay
Conwy Bay
Irish Sea
Fort Belan
Abermenai Point
Puffin Island
Penmaenmawr
Church Island

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.