The River Gaunless runs through the town. It is a tributary of the River Wear and was given it's name by Norsemen in whose tongue it means useless.
The adjacent town of West Auckland is notable for having been home to the first team to win the World Cup. It's team of local coal miners won the cup in the Easter of 1909, defeating the mighty Juventus in the final. The cup itself resides in West Auckland Working Men's Club.
Also, should you find yourself in the locality, the nearby village of Escomb is most worth of a visit as it houses one of the oldest Saxon churches in England.
A good resource of information on the town can be found here.