Word To Use Today: thalweg.

What's a thalweg?

Yes, it does sound as if it's something from a Norse saga involving a gold cup, a raven, a quest, and a lot of skulduggery, but it's not that.

It's something that will make you look at the world in a completely different way.

A thalweg (pronounced it TAHLvayg) is the quickest way down a slope - the line of steepest descent.

Naturally, taking the thalweg is not always to be recommended, because it's quite likely to be accompanied by a long arrrggghhhh followed by a fatal splat, but from now on whenever I see a slope I shall stop and trace out the thalweg.


Cheddar Gorge

And then I'll walk round the safe way.

Word To Be Aware Of Today: thalweg. This word is German. Thal means valley, and Weg means way or path.

A thalweg is also the outline of a river bed from source to mouth.