River Elwy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids River Elwy |
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A view of the river in the 1860s by Francis Bedford (1816–1894)
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| Native name | Afon Elwy |
| Country | Wales |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Llangernyw |
| River mouth | confluence with River Clwyd |
The River Elwy (called Afon Elwy in Welsh) is a river in Wales. It flows into another river, the River Clwyd, making it a "tributary."
The Elwy starts in the Denbigh Moors area, south-east of Llanrwst. However, it only gets the name "Elwy" at the village of Llangernyw. This is where three smaller rivers, Afon Cledwen, Afon Collen, and Afon Gallen, join together to form the Elwy.
The river flows east through Llanfair Talhaiarn. A few miles after this village, another river, the River Aled (Afon Aled), joins it. The River Aled begins at Llyn Aled, which is a lake.
After passing through Bont-newydd, the River Elwy turns north. It then flows through the city of St. Asaph. In Welsh, St. Asaph is called Llanelwy, which means "the church enclosure on the Elwy." The Elwy finally joins the River Clwyd about halfway between St. Asaph and Rhuddlan. You can often see the waters of the two rivers flowing side by side for several miles before they fully mix.
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Ancient Caves and History
The lower valley of the River Elwy is home to many caves. These caves are very important for archaeology, which is the study of human history through digging up old things. They are considered some of the most important caves and rock shelters from the Stone Age in Britain.
Discoveries at Pontnewydd Cave
One special cave is Pontnewydd Cave. Inside this cave, scientists found remains of Neanderthal people. This discovery is very exciting because it's the most north-westerly place where Neanderthal remains have ever been found. It helps us learn more about where these ancient humans lived.
Fishing in the River Elwy
The River Elwy is well-known for its excellent fishing. It's a great spot to catch sea trout, which are also called "sewin." These fish live in the sea but swim up rivers to lay their eggs.
Catching Salmon and Trout
The river also has Atlantic salmon, another popular fish that travels from the ocean to freshwater. The Rhyl and St Asaph Angling Association manages about 20 miles of fishing areas on the Elwy, Clwyd, and Aled rivers.
In recent years, especially in 2017, many wild brown trout have been caught in the Elwy. Most of these fish are released back into the river unharmed. This is part of a voluntary "catch and release" system that helps protect the fish population. In 2017, a large wild trout weighing 5½ pounds was caught and then released on a part of the River Elwy owned by the angling association.
