River Tees

River Tees
High Force on the River Tees
Course of the Tees
Location
CountryEngland
RegionCumbria, Durham, Yorkshire
Physical characteristics
Source 
  locationCross Fell
  coordinates54°42′02″N 2°28′02″W / 54.7006°N 2.4673°W / 54.7006; -2.4673
  elevation2,474 ft (754 m)
MouthNorth Sea
  location
between Seal Sands and Redcar
  coordinates
54°38′54″N 1°08′51″W / 54.6483°N 1.1474°W / 54.6483; -1.1474
  elevation
0 ft (0 m)
Length85 mi (137 km)
Basin size708 sq mi (1,834 km2)
Basin features
Tributaries 
  leftHarwood Beck, Hudeshope Beck,
Eggleston Burn, Skerne, Billingham Beck
  rightMaize Beck, Lune, Balder, Greta, Leven

The River Tees (/tz/), in England, rises on the eastern slope of Cross Fell in the North Pennines and flows eastwards for 85 miles (137 km) to reach the North Sea in the North East of England. The modern-day history of the river has been tied with the industries on Teesside in its lower reaches, where it has provided the means of import and export of goods to and from the North East England. The need for water further downstream also meant that reservoirs were built in the extreme upper reaches, such as Cow Green.