The Don's major tributaries are the Dearne, the Rother and the Sheaf.
Along the Sheffield - Rotherham stretch of the river are five weirs that punctuate a local footpath: the Five Weirs Walk.
Some of the twistier sections of the Don are abridged by a series of canal cuttings that constitute the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.
The industrial nature of the region has led to a severe pollution problem for the river, although this has abated somewhat over recent years, with salmon reported in the river near Doncaster.
Fig trees grow on a stretch of the river bank in Sheffield; the seeds having germinated successfully thanks to the increased warmth of the water near factory outfalls.
The Don derives its name from Danu, a Celtic mother goddess.