In antiquity the River Waveney flowed to the sea through Oulton Broad and Lake Lothing, reaching the sea at Lowestoft,[citation needed] meaning that together with the mouth of the River Yare Lothingland was historically an island, and was indeed known as the Island of Lothingland.[citation needed] When the Waveney deviated its course on its current sharp turn to the north this was no longer the case.[citation needed] In 1833 the Norwich and Lowestoft Navigation opened for sea-borne vessels to pass through Oulton Broad and Lake Lothing, the area once again effectively became an island.[1]