Afon Llynfi (Wye) facts for kids
The Afon Llynfi is a short river in Powys, a county in south Wales. It's like a smaller stream that feeds into a much larger river called the River Wye. The Afon Llynfi flows from south to north, running along the western side of the Black Mountains. Part of its journey is even inside the beautiful Brecon Beacons National Park.
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What is the Afon Llynfi?
The Afon Llynfi starts as a tiny stream west of a village called Bwlch. From there, it flows north for about 2 miles (3.2 km) until it reaches Llangorse Lake. This lake is a very important part of the river's path.
The River's Journey
After leaving Llangorse Lake near the village of Llangors, the Afon Llynfi continues its journey. It flows past small communities like Trefecca and Tredustan. Then, it travels between the two villages of Talgarth and Bronllys. In this area, the river actually forms part of the boundary for the national park. Finally, it flows northeast past the village of Three Cocks, also known as Aberllynfi, before joining the River Wye near Glasbury Bridge.
Rivers That Join the Afon Llynfi
Many smaller streams flow into the Afon Llynfi, adding to its water. On its left side, streams like the Tawel and Gwlithen join. On its right side, the Nant Cwy flows directly into Llangorse Lake, and the Nant yr Eiddil also adds water.
The two biggest rivers that join the Afon Llynfi are:
- The Dulas: This river joins the Afon Llynfi on its left side, just before Bronllys Castle Bridge.
- The River Ennig: This river joins a bit further downstream on the opposite bank. It flows through Talgarth before meeting the Afon Llynfi. A popular spot on the River Ennig is Pwll y Wrach, which has beautiful waterfalls that people enjoy visiting.
How the River Was Formed
Long ago, when the ice from the last Ice Age was melting in Wales, something interesting happened. A huge glacier in the Wye Valley blocked the way for the Afon Llynfi to flow into the River Wye.
The Ancient Lake
Because the river's path was blocked, the water from the Afon Llynfi started to build up. It formed a large lake around Llangorse. The water level rose so high that it eventually spilled over two low points, called cols, at Pennorth and Bwlch. These cols were about 189 meters (620 feet) high.
A New Path
When the water overflowed, it flowed south instead, into the River Usk. At this time, the River Usk was already free of ice. This situation, with the Afon Llynfi flowing into the Usk, lasted for hundreds of years! We know this because scientists have found old lake deposits, like layers of mud and sand, under and around Llangorse Lake. These deposits show us how the river and landscape changed over a very long time.
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