flora and fauna
Its source up in Mallerstang is amongst fells built on limestone and millstone grit. This is sheep country and they are everywhere. The dry stone walls run up and down the fells and the sheepfolds and pens are plentiful.As the river valley turns from hill lands to more mature grass and woods you start to see more cattle but you also get the large game estates with pheasant predominating. The fox becomes more plentiful with plenty of cover within the woods of both natural broad leaf as well as conifers.
landscape
From the high fells around Mallerstang the valley runs through the fells towards Appleby-in-Westmoreland. From here the valley starts to broaden out a little until it passes Penrith to the East. There are some narrower gorges past this point until it approaches Carlisle and the open plains leading to the Solway Firth.Geologically the valley changes from limestones and millstone grit around the headwaters through into Penrith red sandstone for the middle section.Tributaries from the East.Main one is the river IrthingTributaries from the West,rivers Caldew, Petteril and Eamont.The last one draining from the English Lake_District_National_Park into the Eden.
economy
The Eden valley economy is dominated by tourism and agriculture. However there are individual industries such as the Eden Valley mineral water company known locally as well well well as well as British Gypsum near to Kirkby Thore.There are also the landed estates where there is still considerable wealth , a good example being Corby Castle.