From the River Ure to the River Trent
The river has been used for commercial navigation since Roman times and the city of York expanded on its strength as a port. Agricultural goods were exported from the area around York and raw materials were imported to the city. In the mid-seventeenth century, the first Acts of Parliament were passed to improve the navigation.
The Yorkshire Ouse is joined by the river Foss at York, the river Wharfe about one mile north of Cawood, the Selby Canal at Selby, the Yorkshire Derwent at Barmby-on-the-Marsh, the River Aire at Asselby Island, the Aire & Calder Navigation at Goole Docks and the river Don (Dutch River) at Goole.