Afon Sychryd facts for kids
The Afon Sychryd is a river in Wales. It flows through Rhondda Cynon Taf. Even though it's only about 5 kilometers (3 miles) long, it's famous for its amazing gorge and beautiful waterfalls.
Contents
Where the River Begins
The Afon Sychryd starts in two main parts.
- One part begins near Penderyn. Here, a small reservoir called Penderyn Reservoir was made by building a dam.
- The second part starts near Craig y Llyn. People call this part the Nant Gwrangon. It flows past Rhigos village and through Cwm Wyrfa. This area is right next to the Brecon Beacons National Park.
River's Journey
When the two parts of the river meet, the Afon Sychryd flows through the southern hills of the Fforest Fawr Geopark. It goes under the A465 Heads of the Valleys Road. Then, it turns northwest to join the Afon Mellte at Pontneddfechan.
The Sychryd Gorge
The lower part of the river cuts into a stunning gorge. This gorge is found below Dinas Rock (also called Craig-y-Ddinas).
- Dinas Rock was once home to an Iron Age hillfort.
- It was also the site of the famous Dinas Silica Mine.
Many people enjoy exploring the gorge. They like to scramble through the river. However, this activity needs to be done carefully. The gorge is home to rare plants like bryophytes and mosses. These tiny plants grow on the rocks in this shady valley. Because these plants are so special, the area is protected as a special area of conservation. This means we need to be careful to keep them safe.
Waterfalls of Afon Sychryd
There are several notable waterfalls along the river.
- One is at Pwll y Crochan, near the A645 road. This waterfall is hard for people to reach.
- Another is Sgydau Sychryd, located below Craig-y-Ddinas. This waterfall is easy to see. You can view it from the Sychryd All-ability Trail. This trail follows an old tramroad that runs up the river from the car park at Craig-y-Ddinas.
These beautiful waterfalls are why the wider area is known as Waterfall Country.
See Also
