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Think you know the River Medway? Think again. You may live in the area, but we bet you have never heard these five obscure facts about the river.

It was the site of the first underwater oil pipeline

During the Second World War, the underwater oil pipeline was developed in order to support the upcoming Allied invasion of mainland Europe. Codenamed Operation Pluto, a prototype pipe was first tested in May 1942, when a line was run under the River Medway.

The origins of this divide are thought to originate more than 1,500 years ago, when the Jutes occupied the east of the county and the Saxons lived to the west.

You can find some bizarre creatures lurking in its depths

In 2004, a nature warden was shocked when he made a strange discovery near what was then Kingsnorth power station. What he had found was a lamprey, a terrifying-looking jawless fish, which dates back to prehistoric times.

The Environment Agency said they did not previously know the fish inhabited the area.

It separates the Kentish Men from the Men of Kent

Were you born north of the River? You have the right to call yourself a Kentish Man (or Maid). Born to the south? You are a Man (or Maid) of Kent.

The origins of this divide are thought to originate more than 1,500 years ago, when the Jutes occupied the east of the county and the Saxons lived to the west.

It's a huge source of artistic inspiration

You may not think of Medway as a particularly glamorous location, but the river has inspired literally hundreds of pieces of work by writers over the years.

Perhaps the most famous tribute was in Edmund Spenser's 1596 epic poem The Faerie Queene, where he described the Medway's 'marriage' to the Thames in extensive detail.

It was a favourite destination for the Vikings

During the 8th Century, when the east coast Britain was under constant attack from Viking forces, the Medway became a popular route inland for the invaders.

People from Medway are tough though and when Vikings tried to capture Rochester in the year 883, citizens fought off the invasion until King Alfred the Great and his army arrived to save the city.