96 GEOLOGY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 



along the valley that runs to the east of Gat- 

 combe and Mount joy. The river flows on to the 

 east of the town of Newport, and soon expands 

 into a wide estuary, which opens into the sea on 

 the north ; the towns of East and West Cowes 

 being situated on the banks of the embouchure 

 of the river. 



Between Ryde and Cowes there is an estuary 

 fed by springs that issue from the northern 

 foot of Arreton and Ashey downs, and form a 

 considerable breadth of water at Wooton-bridge, 

 called Wooton-river ; the estuary below the bridge 

 communicates with the sea, and is termed Fish- 

 bourne-creek. 



The most considerable estuary of the Island is 

 Brading Haven, which covers 800 acres, and at 

 high water has the aspect of a beautiful lake ; but 

 during low water it is a muddy swamp, through 

 which meanders an inconsiderable river, called the 

 Eastern Yar, originating in springs that rise at the 

 foot of the chalk range near Godshill. 



Newtown Bay, between Cowes and Yarmouth, 

 is the mouth of a small river of the same name, 

 which is mainly fed by a copious stream that 

 rises near Calbourne. 



The Western Yar has its source from springs 

 that burst forth from the foot of the chalk near 



