Morecambe Bay

Water type: Bay
Connection to the ocean: Irish Sea -> Atlantic Ocean
Continent: Europe
Climate: Temperate

Largest tributaries

Acipenseriformes - Sturgeons and Paddlefish

Syngnathiformes - Pipefishes and Seahorses

Anguilliformes - Eels and morays

Salmoniformes - Salmons and Trouts

Moroniformes - Temperate basses

Mugiliformes - Mullets

Clupeiformes - Herrings

Perciformes - Perches

Spariformes - Breams and porgies

Beloniformes - Needlefishes

Labriformes - Wrasses

Scombriformes - Mackerels

Scorpaeniformes - Mail-cheeked fishes

Gadiformes - Cods

Mulliformes - Goatfishes

Gobiiformes - Gobies

Carangiformes - Jacks

Pleuronectiformes - Flatfishes

Trachiniformes - Weeverfishes

Aulopiformes - Grinners

Blenniiformes - Blennies

Lamniformes - Mackerel sharks

Carcharhiniformes - Ground sharks

Torpediniformes - Electric rays

Rajiformes - Skates and rays

Orectolobiformes - Carpet shark

Osmeriformes - Smelts

Chimaeriformes - Chimaeras

Squatiniformes - Angelsharks

Hexanchiformes - Six-gill sharks

Rhinopristiformes - Shovelnose rays

Myxiniformes - Hagfishes

Myliobatiformes - Stingrays

Zeiformes - Dories

Tetraodontiformes - Puffers and filefishes

Dactylopteriformes - Flying gurnards

Lampriformes - Lamprids

Squaliformes - Sleeper and dogfish sharks

Lophiiformes - Anglerfishes

Acanthuriformes - Surgeonfishes

Cyprinodontiformes - Toothcarps

Notacanthiformes - Spiny eels

Saccopharyngiformes - Swallowers and Gulpers

Argentiniformes - Marine smelts

Myctophiformes - Lanternfishes

Beryciformes - Sawbellies

Ophidiiformes - Cusk-eels

Acropomatiformes - Oceanic basses

Atheriniformes - Silversides

Callionymiformes - Dragonets

Gasterosteiformes - Sticklebacks

Gobiesociformes - Clingfishes

Morecambe Bay is an estuary in northwest England, just to the south of the Lake District National Park. It is the largest expanse of intertidal mudflats and sand in the United Kingdom, covering a total area of 120 sq mi (310 km2). In 1974, the second largest gas field in the UK was discovered 25 mi (40 km) west of Blackpool, with original reserves of over 7 trillion cubic feet (tcf) (200 billion cubic metres).

The rivers Leven, Kent, Keer, Lune and Wyre drain into the Bay, with their various estuaries making a number of peninsulas within the bay. Much of the land around the bay is reclaimed, forming salt marshes used in agriculture. The bay is known for its wildlife populations, being a Special Area of Conservation, Special Protection Area and a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and there is a bird observatory at Walney Island. Some of the surrounding land is also a protected area, forming the Morecambe Bay Pavements, home to rare butterflies such as the high brown fritillary. The bay has rich cockle beds, which have been fished by locals for generations.