Afon Crafnant facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Afon Crafnant |
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The Afon Crafnant at Trefriw
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| Country | Wales |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Llyn Crafnant |
| River mouth | confluence with Afon Conwy |
| Length | 2.5 mi (4.0 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries |
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The Afon Crafnant (which means River Crafnant in English) is a lovely river in north-west Wales. It is a tributary, which means it's a smaller river that flows into a larger one. The Afon Crafnant joins the River Conwy, which is the main river in the beautiful Conwy valley.
This river starts its journey from the pretty Llyn Crafnant lake. It then flows for about 2.5 miles (4.0 km) before meeting the River Conwy near a village called Trefriw.
Contents
River Friends and Water Power
The Afon Crafnant has its own tributary called the river Geirionydd. This smaller river comes from Llyn Geirionydd lake. The two rivers meet a little way below a place that used to be called Klondyke Mill. This mill used water from both rivers to power its machinery.
The Crafnant river also gets water from several smaller streams. These streams flow down from a ridge (a long, narrow hill) called Cefn Cyfarwydd, which is to the north-west.
Using River Power
At Trefriw, some of the river's water is taken to help power the Trefriw Woollen Mills. This water is used to create hydro-electricity, which is electricity made from moving water. This power helps the machines at the mill work. After helping the mill, the water flows over the amazing Fairy Falls. These waterfalls are a very popular spot for visitors!
Nature in the Valley
The area around the river, known as Coed Crafnant, is a woodland managed by the North Wales Wildlife Trust. They work to protect the plants and animals that live there.
Cwm Glas Crafnant Nature Reserve
Cwm Glas Crafnant is a special place called a national nature reserve. It's looked after by Natural Resources Wales. This reserve is at the top of the narrow Crafnant valley. It sits below rocky hills called Crimpiau and Craig Wen. It's about 5 kilometres from Betws-y-Coed in Conwy.
What Makes it Special?
This quiet area is partly surrounded by volcanic rock. It has many different types of natural environments, called habitats. You can find woodlands, wet marshy areas, and tall cliffs here. This reserve is thought to be a home for rare animals like the red squirrel and the pine marten. Protecting these areas helps these animals survive.
