HUMBER, an estuary on the east coast of England, formed by the rivers Trent and Ouse, the northern shore belonging to Yorkshire and the southern to Lincolnshire. These rivers join near Faxfleet and flow east for 18 m., then south-east for 19 m. to the North sea. The width of the estuary is I m. at the head, widening to 31 m. at 8 m. above the mouth, where it increases to 8 m. in width. On the north side at the mouth is a large shallow bay enclosed by Spurn Head (q.v.). Except where the Humber cuts through a low chalk ridge, between north and south Ferriby, the shores and adjacent lands are nearly flat. The water is muddy; and the course for shipping has to wind about to avoid numerous shoals. The course is carefully buoyed and lighted, for the Humber is an important highway of commerce, having on the Yorkshire bank the great port of Hull, and on the Lincoln shire bank those of Immingham and Grimsby, while Goole, to which there is a channel 22 ft. deep at spring tides, lies on the Ouse a little above the junction with the Trent. Canals connect with south Yorkshire, the Trent and the Midlands. A tidal bore is sometimes seen on the Humber. The sea has attacked the Hol derness peninsula and destroyed old towns and villages, including Ravenspur, which was once a port and the scene of the landing of Bolingbroke, while deposits of alluvium in the estuary have narrowed it considerably.