Afon Elan facts for kids
The Afon Elan (which means River Elan in English) is a beautiful river in central Wales. It flows through a wide area of high, open land called Elenydd. This river is special because it's a "tributary" of the much larger River Wye. A tributary is a smaller river or stream that flows into a larger river.
Discovering the Afon Elan
The name Elan probably comes from an old Welsh word, elain. This word means 'hind' or 'fawn', which is a young deer. People think the river might have been named this way because of how it rushes and bounces along its path, much like a playful fawn.
Where Does the Afon Elan Start?
The Afon Elan begins its journey in a wet, open area of moorland. This starting point is on the eastern side of a hill called Pen y Deunant, located in Ceredigion, a county in Wales.
The River's Journey Through the Elan Valley
As the Afon Elan flows, it is joined by several smaller streams. These include Nant Dderwen, Nant Cwta, and Nant Hirin. After these streams join, the river enters the famous Elan Valley Reservoirs.
The first reservoir it reaches is Craig Goch Reservoir. From there, the water flows into Garreg-ddu Reservoir. Finally, it reaches Caban-coch Reservoir. These reservoirs are a chain of lakes built to store water.
After passing through this chain of reservoirs, the Afon Elan continues its journey. It flows in a north-easterly direction and passes through a small place called Elan Village. About two miles later, the river turns towards the south-east. Soon after this turn, the Afon Elan meets and joins the River Wye, adding its waters to the larger river's flow.
