River Alde

Alde
River
The river at Aldeburgh
Country	England
Region	Suffolk
Tributaries
- right	River Ore
Source
- location	Brundish
- elevation	60 m (197 ft)
- coordinates	52°16′48″N 1°18′17″E / 52.2799°N 1.3048°E / 52.2799; 1.3048
Mouth
- location	North Sea
- elevation	0 m (0 ft)
- coordinates	52°02′24″N 1°27′39″E / 52.0401°N 1.4607°E / 52.0401; 1.4607Coordinates: 52°02′24″N 1°27′39″E / 52.0401°N 1.4607°E / 52.0401; 1.4607
Length	54.4 km (34 mi)
Location of the river mouth within Suffolk

The River Alde is a river in Suffolk, England passing by Snape and Aldeburgh. The river is known as the River Ore as it approaches Orford and flows by a shingle spit before emptying into the North Sea.

The source of the River Alde is near Laxfield in the same area as the River Blyth. Initially a stream, it becomes tidal and widens considerably when it reaches Snape. It meanders east past Aldeburgh, after which this part of the river was named. Though it once entered the sea near Orford, the mouth of the river has now been pushed some five miles further south as shingle has accumulated over hundreds of years after which it splits to form Havergate Island and is joined by its tributary, the Butley River, before reaching the sea at Shingle Street.

During Tudor times, the river served as a port from which four ships were launched to fight against the Spanish Armada. The river no longer serves as a port but as an area for yacht club members to gather to sail.

The River Ore is the name of the final section of around 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) of the River Alde from just above Orford to the sea. It has one tributary, the Butley River, and Havergate Island is found at their confluence.

The lower reaches of the river passes through marshland and shingle or sand beaches, most of which is now owned by the National Trust as the "Orford Ness National Nature Reserve". Before the National Trust took ownership of this land, it was the site of a secret military base where tests with radar were carried out during the Cold War.