Editing Middlewich (section)

==Geography==
{{climate chart|Middlewich
|1|6|70
|1|7|50
|3|9|60
|4|12|50
|7|15|60
|10|18|70
|12|20|70
|12|20|80
|10|17|70
|8|14|80
|4|9|80
|2|7|80
|float=right
|source={{cite web|url=http://weather.yahoo.com/climo/UKXX1253_c.html |publisher=Yahoo! Weather |year=2008 |title=Records and averages |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050923191625/http://weather.yahoo.com/climo/UKXX1253_c.html |archive-date=23 September 2005 }}
|clear=both
}}
Middlewich is located at {{coord|53|11|31|N|2|26|35|W|type:city}} (53.192, −2.443), on the confluence of three rivers, the [[River Dane|Dane]], the [[River Croco|Croco]] and the [[River Wheelock|Wheelock]]. The town is approximately {{convert|2.5|mi|km|1}} from junction 18 of the [[M6 motorway]].  The main westward traffic route between the motorway and [[Winsford]], and also southbound traffic to [[Crewe]], go through the town.  There are three canals in Middlewich, the [[Middlewich Branch]] of the [[Shropshire Union Canal]], the [[Trent and Mersey Canal]], and the [[Wardle Canal]], the United Kingdom's shortest canal at {{convert|100|ft|m|0}} long.<ref>{{cite web|title=Wardle Canal|work=Mike Stevens' UK Inland Waterways Pages|url=http://www.mike-stevens.co.uk/reports/cruise2005/Middlewich-13.htm|access-date=2 February 2008}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Fascinating facts about canals and rivers|work=waterscape.com|url=http://www.waterscape.com/features-and-articles/features/fascinating-facts-about-canals-and-rivers|access-date=2 February 2008}}</ref>

The town sits less than {{convert|98|ft|m|0}} above sea level, on Upper Triassic Mercia [[mudstone]] laid down with large salt deposits as part of the Cheshire plain, a [[boulder clay]] plain separating the hills of [[North Wales]] and the [[Peak District]] of [[Derbyshire]], formed following the retreat of [[ice age]] [[glacier]]s.<ref>{{cite web|author=The Environment Agency|title=Weaver and Dane Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy, Consultation Document|access-date=16 April 2007|year=2005 |url=http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/commondata/acrobat/wd_cons_pdf_1_896179.pdf |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060218181640/http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/commondata/acrobat/wd_cons_pdf_1_896179.pdf |archive-date = 18 February 2006}}</ref>

The climate is generally [[temperate]] with few extremes of temperature or weather.  The mean average temperature is slightly above average for the United Kingdom as is the average amount of sunshine.<ref>[http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/averages/19712000/tmean/17.gif Met. Office:Average annual mean temperature.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130828101340/http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/averages/19712000/tmean/17.gif |date=28 August 2013 }}. Retrieved 15 April 2007.</ref><ref>[http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/averages/19712000/ss/17.gif Met. Office:Average annual sunshine.]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210075836/http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/averages/19712000/ss/17.gif |date=10 February 2012 }}. Retrieved 15 April 2007.</ref> The average annual rainfall is slightly below the average for the UK.<ref>[http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/averages/19712000/rr/17.gif Met. Office:Average annual rainfall.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130719222449/http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/averages/19712000/rr/17.gif |date=19 July 2013 }}. Retrieved 15 April 2007.</ref> There are few days when snow is lying on the ground, although there are some days of air frost.<ref>[http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/averages/19712000/dl/17.gif Met. Office:Days of snow lying.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070809125155/http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/averages/19712000/dl/17.gif |date=9 August 2007 }}. Retrieved 15 April 2007.</ref><ref>[http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/averages/19712000/daf/17.gif Met. Office:Days of air frost.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070705082009/http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/averages/19712000/daf/17.gif |date=5 July 2007 }}. Retrieved 15 April 2007.</ref>