River Esk, North Yorkshire

River Esk
River Esk near its mouth at Whitby
Course of the Esk
Location
CountryEngland
CountiesNorth Yorkshire
TownsWhitby
Physical characteristics
Source 
  locationThe Esklets near Westerdale
  coordinates54°23′56″N 0°58′40″W / 54.3990°N 0.9779°W / 54.3990; -0.9779
  elevation340 m (1,120 ft)
Mouth 
  location
North Sea at Whitby
  coordinates
54°29′33″N 0°36′44″W / 54.4925°N 0.6122°W / 54.4925; -0.6122
Length45 km (28 mi)
Basin size362 km2 (140 sq mi)
Discharge 
  locationSleights
  average4.8 m3/s (170 cu ft/s)
  maximum350 m3/s (12,000 cu ft/s)
Whitby
Source
Location of Source and Whitby within North Yorkshire

The River Esk is a river in North Yorkshire, England that empties into the North Sea at Whitby after a course of around 28 miles (45 km) through its valley of Eskdale. The river's name is derived from the Brythonic word "isca" meaning "water". The Esk is the only major river in Yorkshire that flows directly into the North Sea; all other watercourses defined as being major rivers by the Environment Agency, either flow to the North Sea via the River Tees or the Humber Estuary.