Afon Fathew facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Afon Fathew |
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View of the Afon Fathew valley
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| Country | Wales |
| Region | Gwynedd |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Gwynedd |
| River mouth | River Dysynni |
The Afon Fathew is a river in Gwynedd, a county in north-west Wales. The word "Afon" means "river" in Welsh. This river flows downstream from the beautiful Dolgoch Falls, which is a popular spot for nature lovers. For much of its journey, the river runs alongside the historic Talyllyn Railway.
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What's in a Name? The Afon Fathew
The original name of this river in Welsh is Mathew. This likely comes from the personal name Matthew.
However, in Welsh, words can change their first letter depending on the word before them. This is called "consonant mutation". Because the Welsh word afon (river) is a feminine noun, Mathew changes to Fathew when it follows afon.
- Example: The hamlet of Pontfathew gets its name from pont (bridge), which is also a feminine noun. So, pont + Mathew becomes Pontfathew.
In English, people often use the Welsh name Afon Fathew. Sometimes, you might hear "River Mathew" or "River Fathew".
The River's Journey
The Afon Fathew is a short river. It flows mostly in a southwesterly direction.
- It starts its journey near Dolgoch railway station.
- It then joins the River Dysynni closer to the towns of Tywyn and Bryncrug.
The Talyllyn Railway and Dolgoch Falls
The famous Talyllyn Railway runs right next to the Afon Fathew for most of its path. This old railway is a fun way to see the river valley.
The Dolgoch Falls are a series of three lovely waterfalls. They are on a stream called Nant Dôl-goch, which flows into the Afon Fathew. These waterfalls are a favorite place for walkers who visit from Dolgoch station.
How the Valley Changed: River Capture
The valley where the Afon Fathew flows is very interesting to geologists (scientists who study the Earth). It shows something called "river capture."
- Before: A long time ago, during a glacial period (an ice age), the River Dysynni used to flow through this valley, above Dolgoch.
- The Blockage: A huge landslide happened near Abergynolwyn. This landslide blocked the valley. You can still see the marks of this landslide on the side of the valley today!
- New Path: Because the valley was blocked, the River Dysynni had to find a new way to flow. It pushed its way through the hills to the northwest, finding a new channel in a valley next to it.
- The Afon Fathew Today: The Afon Fathew is now made up of the smaller streams that used to feed the lower part of the old River Dysynni. This is why the valley the Afon Fathew flows through looks much bigger than you would expect for such a short river. It's a valley that was once home to a much larger river!
